DOT Unveils Designs for Next TZ Bridge

By JOHN JORDAN

TARRYTOWN – Several hundred people reviewed project boards detailing various bridge designs and mass transit routes under consideration with leaders of the Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 Corridor Project study group at an Open House staged at the Westchester Marriott Hotel in Tarrytown on June 28.

The study group, which consists of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA) and Metropolitan Transportation Authority Metro-North Railroad (MNR) also held an Open House at the Palisades Center Mall in West Nyack on June 30.

Michael Anderson, project team leader of the New York State Department of Transportation, said the latest Open Houses were geared to informing the public the results of its latest analyses of bridge and transit (commuter rail and bus rapid transit) options.

“In the coming weeks, with respect to the transit alignments, we will have selected the optimum alignment all the way across the corridor,” he said. “That puts together the alternatives. Now we know exactly where the bus will run, where the train will go, will it be on a bridge, will it be in a tunnel?”

He continued that with the input of working groups, a host of possible bridge designs, incorporating both single level and dual level confi gurations, were also studied over the past year.

The study group has whittled those bridge confi gurations down to six designs that are now being seriously reviewed. In coming weeks a decision on the preferred bridge design is also expected.

Mr. Anderson said the study group will then have to undertake comparative analysis to determine the environmental impacts of the bridge design and transit alignment, which should be completed by year’s end along with a DEIS (Draft Environmental Impact Statement) document that will be submitted to federal transportation agencies.

In terms of exploring the means to fi nance the new bridge, estimated at approximately $16 billion at full build-out, Mr. Anderson said that a report is expected to be completed soon on what core strategies should be explored, including possible public/private partnerships and other public and private funding and revenue sources.

“After that the governor and the Legislature will decide what they want to pursue. Step two will then begin and they would help us as to what specifi c mechanisms they would want us to pursue,” he said.

At the open houses, study team members explained the options that were derived, in large part, from more than 30 municipal and community working meetings held last fall with local government offi cials and members of the public. Study group offi cials noted that the project team will consider public comments received at the open houses before narrowing the alignments and confi gurations that will be considered.

NYSDOT is the lead agency managing the study in coordination with NYSTA and MNR and in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration.

“We are encouraged by the progress that has been made on the project, and are especially pleased to be able to present to the public the results of an exhaustive study of options before we advance to the detailed analyses of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS),” Acting NYSDOT Commissioner Stanley Gee stated. “We have considered every comment we’ve received and look forward to continued public involvement in the development of this important project.”

New York State Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael Fleischer added, “While the process of finding the best transportation solution for this region continues, the Authority will continue to fulfill its responsibility to maintain and operate the Tappan Zee Bridge by continuing to make the necessary investments to assure safe and efficient travel for the millions of motorists that use the bridge annually.”

In terms of the mass transit possibilities with the project, Metro-North President Howard Permut said, “We’re excited that the environmental study is moving forward with the benefit of extensive public review and hundreds of comments from officials, community residents and stakeholders throughout the region. This plan includes a transit system that will grow with the region, easing congested highways and reducing east-west travel times. We encourage the public to continue participating in this planning process and look forward to further collaboration as the project plan develops.”

The Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 Corridor Project began in early 2001. In September 2008 the team announced its recommendation that the bridge be replaced and that bus rapid transit and commuter rail transit be included in the final design of the new span.

There are four build alternatives, all of which call for commuter rail service extending from Suffern, across Rockland County and the new Tappan Zee Bridge, to Grand Central Terminal via MNR’s Hudson Line. The build alternatives differ in how bus rapid transit would be configured, either in a dedicated bus way separated by a physical barrier, a dedicated bus lane with buses only, or with buses and high occupancy vehicle/toll traffic.

This is part of the July 1, 2010 online edition of Construction News.

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