While the state moves forward with pile driving tests for the new Tappan Zee Bridge and the New York State Thruway Authority’s executive director waxes elegant about the project, another two Westchester municipalities have passed resolutions calling on the state and federal government to restore mass transit to the Tappan Zee project. Orange County Executive Ed Diana has also come out strongly in support of transit.

Tarrytown, the eastern terminus of the Tappan Zee, and New Rochelle joined the growing ranks of municipalities including Yonkers, Dobbs Ferry, Wesley Hills, Greenburgh, Hastings-on-Hudson and Croton-on-Hudson, as well as the North Westchester Energy Action Consortium that are calling for a 21^st century bridge.

Orange County Executive Diana is adding his county’s voice in support of transit on the Tappan Zee. At a forum hosted by Congresswoman Nan Hayworth (R-Bedford), the county executive called current plans for a new Tappan Zee bridge foolish, and asked the congresswoman to help convince Governor Cuomo to put mass transit back into the project.

The fact that Orange County, along with New Rochelle and Yonkers, two of Westchester’s largest cities, are calling for transit is particularly significant. Though these areas will not be directly impacted by the project’s construction, their leaders recognize the importance of including transit in this project to form a strong foundation for a system to address the region’s mobility needs, both now and in the future.

State Senator John Bonacic (R-Mt. Hope) has also written to Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) endorsing the inclusion of bus rapid transit as part of the Tappan Zee project and encouraging the majority leader to include this position in the state’s final budget.

The state is accepting public comments on the project’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement until March 30^th; they can be e-mailed to: tzbsite@dot.state.ny.us.

For more information on the Tappan Zee project, visit BRTonthebridge.org. Make sure to sign our petition in support of transit on the Tappan Zee here!