While it is encouraging that a public scoping session was held for the Tappan Zee Hudson River Crossing project Oct. 25, the lack of a mass-transit component was very disappointing. I use the Tappan Zee and, along with millions of other drivers, have experienced massive traffic jams regardless of the bridge”™s condition.
It will be a tremendous waste of taxpayers”™ money to invest billions of dollars to replace the bridge only to find it does not resolve the congestion.
Having lived in the San Francisco Bay area, I know the Oakland Bay Bridge would not be able to handle the massive number of cars commuting between Oakland and San Francisco if the Bay Area Rapid Transit system did not exist to relieve the traffic load. Whether a mass-transit system is attached to the Tappan Zee or a separate underground system is built is a matter of cost determination, but the fundamental need to relieve the traffic needs to be addressed.
The cost of drilling underground is most likely prohibitively expensive, so a replacement bridge should incorporate a mass-transit system ”“ light rail or commuter bus ”“ across its span. This will not only help relieve congestion along the I-287 corridor but also help revitalize the entire region.
By incorporating mass transit and carefully integrating with the key towns on both sides of the river, we will be able to relieve traffic and provide affordable means of transportation to commuters in the surrounding counties to ignite the engine for economic growth.
We need to deleverage our balance sheet but we also need to introduce “good inflation” ”“ i.e., increase in wages that leads to more consumption, while controlling “bad inflation” ”“ such as food and gasoline that does not increase disposable income.
One way to do that is to create more jobs. And, by having affordable mass transit, we also will attract younger families with children to our region. This leads to population growth and, also, younger families tend to spend more than older families without children.
So instead of addressing just a decaying bridge, please address the traffic congestion.
Paul Okura is president of CMIT Solutions of Southern Westchester in Eastchester.
