Arthur V. Sheridan

Arthur V. Sheridan (1888 - June 20, 1952) was a Bronx Engineer who served as Bronx Borough Commissioner of Public Works from 1942 to 1952 under Bronx Borough President James J. Lyons and Arterial Coordinator Robert Moses.

Early life

A native of New York City, Sheridan attended the City University of New York and studied engineering at Columbia University.

Public Service Engineering Career

Sheridan Started his career working on a federal engineering project, earning himself presidential commendations from both Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1934, Sheridan was named Chief Engineer of the Bronx by Bronx Borough President James J. Lyons. In 1942, Lyons appointed him from that position to the position of Bronx Borough Commissioner of Public Works.

Career outside of Public Service

Sheridan served as president of numerous professional and community groups. From 1928 to 1930, he was the president of the New York Society of Professional Engineers.^[1] Sheridan was a founding member and from 1937 to 1938 served as the second president of the National Society of Professional Engineers after David B. Steinman.^[2] He also served as president of the Bronx Rotary Club.^[3] Sheridan also belonged to both the American Legion and the New York Athletic Club.

During World War I, Sheridan served in the American Expeditionary Forces and as a military consultant during World War II.

In addition, Sheridan edited The American Engineer for 15 years, lectured at Yale, and taught engineering at New York University and Manhattan College.

Outside of the engineering field, Sheridan lectured on history and philosophy.

Death

Sheridan died in a car accident on June 20, 1952 en route to pick up his 11 year-old son to drive back to their home in Lake Mohawk, New Jersey, less than two weeks before his retirement as Borough Commissioner of Public Works on July 1.^[4]

Sheridan Expressway

The Sheridan Expressway, constructed between 1958 and 1962, is named after Sheridan. This highway is 1.4 miles long, with 12-foot wide lanes in either direction, and connects the Bruckner and Cross Bronx Expressways in order to provide a route for commercial vehicles, which cannot travel on the Bronx River Parkway. It currently carries Interstate 895 and is the subject of a campaign to tear down the elevated highway in favor of a ground level boulevard. An estimated forty-five thousand vehicles travel on the Sheridan Expressway each day.

Legacy

In addition to the highway, Sheridan has a scholarship named after him at Manhattan College.^[5]

Bibliography

• "Whither Engineering Education?"
• "Three Centuries in the Bronx"
• "Traffic in the Bronx"

References