State Nixes Long Island Tunnel Proposal

RYE, NY — The Cuomo administration has dropped its plan to have a tunnel connecting Long Island with Westchester County. Acting Transportation Commissioner Paul Karas made the announcement Thursday, but did not elaborate on the reasoning behind it.

“In 2016, the New York State Department of Transportation conducted a high-level review to assess the technical and financial feasibility of constructing a new Long Island Sound Crossing," Karas said in a prepared statement.

"The department’s intent was to consider how such a project could be integrated into and improve the region’s overall mobility, promote regional economic growth, and minimize current and potential future environmental impacts," he said.

SEE ALSO: Long Island Sound Tunnel Proposal Controversial: POLL

"After a careful review of a variety of considerations pertaining to the project, NYSDOT has decided not to move forward with it at this time,” Karas said.

The proposal was estimated to cost as much as $55 billion and take two decades to complete.
In January, Gov. Andrew Cuomo asked for expressions of interest from developers for the project, six groups responded favorably.

It was thought that a tunnel would reduce travel time from Oyster Bay on Long Island to the Rye/Port Chester area from 55-100 minutes to about 15-20 minutes, the state said.

Regional benefits were determined in a study to include improved air quality, reduced travel times and congestion, access to expanded labor markets and improved freight movements.

Photo credit: NYS Department of Transportation.