New York Metropolitan Transportation Council Ok’s “New” Tappan Zee Bridge

August 21,2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

New York -NY , Commuters may get some form a relief at the antiquated Tappan Zee Bridge ,the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council voted unanimously Monday to approve a $5.4 billion plan to build a “New ” Tappan Zee Bridge.

County executives of Westchester, Rockland and Putnam County all favor the project with each of the three holding veto power because the council must approve a project unanimously to qualify it for federal funds.

It is the longest bridge in the State of New York . Bridge construction started in March 1952 and the bridge opened for traffic on December 15, 1955. The deteriorating bridge, which bears far more traffic than it was designed for, has led to plans to repair the bridge or replace it with a tunnel or a new bridge.In 2008, New York state officials announced their plan to replace the Tappan Zee Bridge with a new bridge that includes commuter-train tracks and lanes for high-speed buses. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tappan_Zee_Bridge )

Under the proposed plan, the bridge will have a dedicated bus lane during rush hours but ambitious plans for a commuter rail line or bus mass transit were dropped due to financial reasons. NY Governor Mario Cuomo has agreed to the formation of a task force that will make mass transit recommendations within a year.

According to CBS news not everyone is happy however , the environmental group Riverkeeper released a statement calling the vote “a major departure from past promises of transparency and inclusiveness.” ( http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/08/20/nymtc-to-vote-on-new-tappan-zee-bridge/ )

The group claims the vote violated public process and the project lacks a financial plan — required by federal and state law — detailing what revenues will be “reasonably available” to pay for the bridge replacement. ( http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/08/20/nymtc-to-vote-on-new-tappan-zee-bridge/ )

“In the business world, no reputable company would hold a vote on, let alone approve a $5 billion investment on the basis of a sketchy, one-page financial plan, especially from a business that’s already having problems with its bond rating, like the Thruway Authority,” stated Paul Gallay, President and Hudson Riverkeeper. ( http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/08/20/nymtc-to-vote-on-new-tappan-zee-bridge/ )

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