Editorial: New Tappan Zee picking up speed
Then Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo, right, conducts an inspection tour of the Tappan Zee Bridge with representatives from New York State Thruway Authority and New York State Department of Transportation. Credit: AP, 2010
It's clear that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is determined to build a new Tappan Zee Bridge -- an eight-lane span projected to cost $5.2 billion. Cuomo's message is that government can tackle big infrastructure projects, a welcome sentiment these days.
Despite the appeal of salvaging the existing span for use as some sort of elevated park, that no longer seems practical. The existing bridge, built in 1955, will be demolished. It's simply outdated and inadequate and eventually will be unsafe for 138,000 vehicle crossings every day.
The Hudson River bridge is an integral commercial artery and vital connector between upstate and downstate, so a wider span with designated space for buses, emergency vehicles and pedestrians is good for all of New York. And as one of the largest infrastructure projects in the country, it is expected to create roughly 45,000 jobs at a time when they are most needed.
Three bidders have submitted moutainous proposals to build the bridge, and on Tuesday the state released a key environmental document. The project is accelerating after more than $20 million spent on studies; a decade of gridlock is ending.
Cuomo, the bridge builder, is promising to be open and responsive to both the immediate community and beyond. That's critical to maintain public support for the project.
There are still many questions. Foremost is, how will the state pay for the new span? Will a $2-billion federal loan come through? How much will it cost drivers to cross the bridge? What are the environmental risks? What will it look like?
The current bridge is ugly and the new one should be a symbol of the state, just as the Golden Gate Bridge is in California. New Yorkers deserve a look at the designs and the ability to influence the selection.
For now, the state is investing $300 million to make the bridge adaptable for mass transit, either for higher-capacity buses or light rail, in the future. To the frustration of transit advocates, there is neither demand nor money to implement these right away.
Give credit where it's due, but the governor and his bridge team will have to remember what they promised: an open and, honest dialogue with New Yorkers.
