County execs back Tappan Zee project - Westfair Communications

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County executives from Westchester, Rockland and Putnam yesterday said they would vote in favor of including the Tappan Zee Bridge project in the region”™s long-range transportation plan at the upcoming New York Metropolitan Transportation Council meeting.

Without the council”™s unanimous approval, the state is not able to submit for federal funding for the project.

The NYMTC comprises representatives of Putnam, Rockland, Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk counties; the New York City departments of City Planning and Transportation; the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the state Department of Transportation.

“I have been a strong supporter on the need for a new bridge but I”™ve been equally strong on the need for some form of mass transit as a way to reduce congestion and pollution,” said Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino in a statement. “Under the framework we announce today, mass transit will not be an afterthought in the building of the bridge.”

Astorino was joined by Scott Vanderhoef of Rockland and MaryEllen Odell of Putnam.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo released a statement following the announcement that he is “pleased that they are pledging to vote for our plan.”

The news was also well received by Marsha Gordon, president and CEO of the Business Council of Westchester and president of BuildTheBridgeNow.org, who applauded Astorino “for representing the critical needs of the business community in his timely decision.”