White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Cnty Execs Back New TZB as Gov Promises Bus Transit and Mass Transit Task Force

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino,(center) Rockland County Executive Scott Vanderhoef (right) and Putnam County Executive MaryEllen O'dell (left) today announced their intention to vote yes at the next New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) meeting to include the new Tappan Zee Bridge project in the region’s long-range transportation plan. A unanimous vote qualifies the project for federal funds. WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. News Release from the Westchester Department of Communications supplemented by WPCNR Reporting From the Scene. August 16, 2012 UPDATED AUGUST 22, 2012: Astorino told the news conference on the shores of the Hudson River in Tarryton he expected the Council to approve it sometime in September, paving way for the state to qualify for the TIFIA starter loan the state is waiting to receive to start the bridge. Astorino justified the withholding approval, because he and the other two executives felt strongly that mass rapid transit had to be guaranteed to be part of the new bridge with a mechanism set up to achieve that. County Executive Astorino told WPCNR when asked if Governor Cuomo has indicated to either he, Vanderhoef or Odell whether bids on the new bridge (in hand at Albany since July 27 currently being vetted) were either higher or lower than the $5.2 Billion estimate the state has been using, Astorino said, "No." Asked if the Governor had confided the hard numbers to the executives during their discussions, Astorino had earlier said "No." (On the White Plains Week television program Friday on Channels 45 and 76, viewable on the internet at www.whiteplainsweek.com -- the next day -- spokesman Brian Conybeare speaking for the Governor said all three bidders had told the state their bids were all not over $5.2 Billion.) WPCNR also asked the three County Executives why they were so concerned about a potential $14 toll when New York commuters have paying $12 tolls on the Whitestone, Throgs Neck, and Triborough Bridges, and Lincoln and Holland Tunnels. Astorino said the rise in toll projected was a tripling of the rate, that the higher toll might hurt Westchester's ability to attract business in the future. Astorino felt that a special discount could be put in place to mitigate the toll. He said that tolls would have to pay for the bridge. Vanderhoef said that there was no idea what the new construction would cost and that cost would dictate the toll-- though Conybeare said the bridge bidders have already gone on record saying the bridge would cost no more than $5.2 Billion) The county executives said they support the project based on a framework developed in conjunction with Gov. Andrew Cuomo that addresses the need for mass transit on the bridge when it is built and in the future. Under the terms of the framework:

· Dedicated bus lanes will be incorporated on the bridge from the start. WPCNR asked Vanderhoef whether since the Governor has committed to bus transit "from Day 1" the Tappan ZeExpress bus fleet would be expanded from its 87 Daily trips a day (42,500 riders a month, about 1,450 riders per day, compared to 138,000 vehicles that cross the bridge a day), when the bridge opened. He said that with a dedicated bus lane the service might see a lift in ridership since the buses would travel faster across the bridge. · The bridge will be constructed with mass transit capacity compatible with a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and Commuter Rail Transit. · A Regional Transit Task Force will be created to study costs and options for regional transit, including commuter rail and a BRT system on the bridge and key portions of the Westchester-Rockland corridor. · The Task Force will issue recommendations in one year, with a plan for short-term steps that can be considered for immediate commencement, as well as long-term plans for transit solutions. · Incentives will be created for contractors that could be used to reinvest in regional mass transit or to moderate impact on toll-payers. “I have been a strong supporter on the need for a new bridge but I’ve been equally strong on the need for some form of mass transit as a way to reduce congestion and pollution,” said Astorino. “Under the framework we announce today, mass transit will not be an afterthought in the building of the bridge. With plans to have mass transit as part of the new Tappan Zee Bridge we’re not waiting five years to start thinking about it, we’re moving forward now.” “I am pleased to join with the governor and my fellow county executives in this important TZ Bridge agreement which outlines steps for constructing a mass-transit ready structure, as well as committing to moving forward in the future to address the region’s mass transit needs,” said Vanderhoef. “This agreement also commits to exploring toll discounts for regional residents.” “The new Tappan Zee bridge project is going to provide a jolt to the economic vitality of the region, both in terms of the thousands of construction and engineering jobs, as well as the increased commerce for the region that will result from having a state-of-the-art new bridge,” said O’Dell. O'Dell also said the bridge would be a benefit to families throughout the region. In addition, the governor and county executives agreed to establish a working group of Thruway, state, federal and local officials to examine ways to keep toll increases to the minimum necessary, including maximizing federal support, expanding discount programs for regional residents, and financing mechanisms that lower the cost of credit and borrowing. ******* Observation: No representative from Governor Andrew Cuomo's office was there for the conference. No representative from the town of Tarrytown attended. Reporters were amused that midway through the news conference a pair of Canada geese overflew the official county executive trio, honking loudly while Mr. Astorino was speaking. Mr. Astorino was speaking at the time and the honking of the geese was very intense. (Mr. Astorino's Department of Recreation and Parks recently authorized the killing of 500 geese who had been residing on the Sprain Lake and adjacent Sprain Lake Golf Course. A spokesperson for the geese was not available and it could not be determined whether the Geese were protesting the recent goose kill.)


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