In many sectors, big builds have transformed New York over the past 20 years

Multibillion-dollar developments have modernized all kinds of places in New York. Over the past 20 years there has been a construction renaissance for infrastructure projects in New York state. From subway renovations to arena constructions, New York has been transformed in nearly every part of the Empire State. Here are six major areas where big projects have transformed New York.

Rebuilding after 9/11

New Yorkers may never fully recover from the damage caused by 9/11, but almost 25 years later, the physical rebuild is still in progress. 2 World Trade Center is the final commercial tower yet to be completed. The creation of the One World Trade Center, the Oculus and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and the other towers transformed a major swath of downtown.

Hudson Yards

This mixed-use development project built homes, shopping and office space on top of a Long Island Rail Road train yard. Now the sprawling development has made its mark on the city by creating the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere. The megadevelopment was the catalyst for the No. 7 line extension from Times Square, bringing the subway to the far West Side of Manhattan.

Transportation

Projects like the Second Avenue subway and the Moynihan Train Hall helped transform a city that runs on public transportation. The Second Avenue subway gave residents of the Upper East Side three new stations, with connections to three more on the way. The restoration of what is now Moynihan Train Hall helped create more space at the busy Midtown commuting hub. The Syracuse I-81 Viaduct Project is transforming the city by replacing an elevated highway with a street-level community grid.

Airports

Renovations at the two New York City airports, while still in progress, are a major upgrade for passengers. Billions were spent on fixing up Terminals B and C at LaGuardia Airport – transforming the airport from one of the worst in the country to newly being rated as one of the best. The multibillion-dollar redevelopment efforts at John F. Kennedy International Airport’s terminals are expected to start coming to fruition this year, with the opening of the new Terminals 1 and 6.

Arena developments

The construction of new arenas has been transformative for New York area sports lovers and concert-goers. These arenas have often come with rezonings or the reallocation of land surrounding the venue. UBS Arena included the development of Belmont Park Village and the expansion of the Long Island Rail Road to the newly created Elmont-UBS Arena Station. And the Barclays Center redevelopment transformed the surrounding neighborhood as part of the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan.

Energy landscape

New York’s energy mix has changed a lot in 20 years. Coal was largely phased out by 2020, and the state’s nuclear energy capacity took a big hit with the closing of Indian Point in 2021. Since then, the state’s use of fossil fuels has soared while new solar and wind projects are becoming a bigger piece of the pie. And in hydropower, the Champlain Hudson Power Express was finished last month and this 339-mile, high-voltage direct current transmission line is delivering renewable Canadian energy to the New York City electrical grid.