Mass transit sought for Tappan Zee

Hundreds of residents, business people and elected officials turned out in Tarrytown Oct. 25 at the first of two public scoping sessions for the Tappan Zee Hudson River Crossing project.

While little new information was revealed by the state and federal agencies heading up the project, many of those in attendance had plenty to say ”“ particularly about the lack of a mass-transit component.

Project Director Michael P. Anderson of the state Department of Transportation said all options being considered for a bridge to replace the 56-year-old Tappan Zee would “preserve the option for future transit construction” but indicated that at present, plans did not include a mass-transit component.

State Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti, whose district includes the towns of Greenburgh and Mount Pleasant, said, “We request that the decision with regard to mass transit be made now,” echoing the overwhelming sentiment of those who spoke.

However, developer Robert F. Weinberg, co-founder and president of Robert Martin Company L.L.C., who was not at the event, said the most important thing is to get the bridge built ”“ even if it means postponing construction of a mass-transit addition.

“There is no question that that bridge should not be denied as long as we get an assurance that it will contain the ingredients for a future mass-transit system,” he said. “Not having it now is not enough to deny building the bridge.”

Absent from the presentation was any information about procurement of materials and workers or funding for the project.