Answer :
Final answer:
Robert Moses played the most direct role in shaping modern New York City's infrastructure, despite Frederick Law Olmsted's significant influence on the City Beautiful movement's guiding principles.
Explanation:
The individual who played an essential role in shaping the way the New York metropolitan area looks today is Robert Moses. As a public official, Moses was responsible for the planning and construction of bridges, parks, and roadways that significantly impacted the urban landscape of New York City. Frederick Law Olmsted, another influential figure in urban design, worked alongside Daniel Burnham to promote the City Beautiful movement, which had a profound effect on city planning practices in the United States. The City Beautiful movement emphasized the inclusion of parks, wide boulevards, and suburban expansion within urban areas. While Olmsted designed Central Park and was instrumental in the movement's ideals, it was Robert Moses whose actions and policies directly shaped New York's infrastructure.
