Tappan Zee Bridge Meeting

This morning I was pleased to meet with South Nyack Mayor, Bonnie Christian; Brian Conybeare, Special Advisor to the Governor on the Tappan Zee Bridge Project and Aimee Vargas, Empire State Development (ESD) Mid-Hudson Regional Director. 

I called the meeting to make sure Governor Cuomo's TZ Bridge Representatives were hearing and addressing the concerns of local residents, which include:

• Siting issues regarding the  shared use path (SUP) terminus

•  Noise and sound barriers on the southwest side of the bridge

•  Marina safety. (The state is mapping the river from Battery Park in New York City to the Troy Dam, which will benefit both fish and boaters. The mapping was required by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation to protect endangered species of fish such as sturgeon but determining the water’s depth as well as safe access areas will help protect recreational boaters.)

I’m glad to see and hear that TZ officials are meeting and talking with area residents and actually making every effort to address their issues. The state is currently conducting a study to determine the number of both pedestrians and bicyclists who will take advantage of the shared use path. The study along with community input can help inform design decisions around the shared use path regarding parking and other issues. The results should be available in June and shared with the community.

The Tappan Zee Bridge Project is truly a “design and build” process. Some elements will change and evolve to serve the needs of various communities. Thanks to the leadership of area residents, concerns about their quality of life have been brought to the forefront. We must continue to work together.