On Tuesday, Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 Corridor project team consultant DMJM Harris quietly released a Request for Proposals, seeking the services of a contractor to perform transit-oriented development training for communities along the I-287 corridor. The development is a huge victory for TSTC and other groups, such as Scenic Hudson and Regional Plan Association, which have for years called for the inclusion of land use planning in the Tappan Zee project, a project which will have major impacts on the future development of the Hudson Valley. It is also a sign that new NYSDOT Commissioner Astrid Glynn’s focus on land use has finally trickled down to the Tappan Zee project in a visible way (for a comparison, see MTR #394 from January 2003, where we criticized the team for its minimal approach to land use impacts).
The RFP calls for a consultant to develop materials and lead training sessions in order to educate residents about urban design and the benefits of TOD, and help community decision-makers learn how to implement effective TOD and hold their own training sessions. The RFP foresees that the consultant will begin work in June and continue over the next two years.
Now that the agencies are taking a “two-tiered” approach (decision on repair vs. replace and mass transit mode in phase one, land use implications of specific transit stops in phase two), I would be curious to see when and how the services of the consultant are expected to be utilized. Thom Kleiner, Orangetown Supervisor