Note: The Business Journal asked members of the business community to weigh in on plans for the Tappan Zee Bridge, which is being fast-tracked through the federal permitting and environmental review processes. This could allow construction of a new bridge at an estimated cost of $5.2 billion. At present, however, plans did not include a mass-transit component.
”˜Infrastructure improvements are key to job creation”™
“As we focus on making our county a globally viable economic competitor, we need rapid transit ”“ bus and rail ”“ across the Hudson. Modernization of our infrastructure must accommodate 21st century needs. Infrastructure improvements are key to job creation and for the regional economy to flourish.
“With government budgets stretched thin, privatization of big-ticket infrastructure, such as the Tappan Zee Bridge, is a highly attractive option. Forming a public-private partnership to rebuild the bridge with a mass-transit component will foster market-based solutions to problems and an excellent opportunity for private investment. And local and state government will benefit by the steady cash flow and returns.”
”“ Bill Mooney, president, Westchester County Association
”˜Mass transit is a must”™
“There are two elephants in the room. First, once you cross the bridge, what”™s the infrastructure going to look like? Even now, I-287 is over capacity, so mass transit is a must. Second, who”™s going to foot the bill? Not the feds, not the state ”“ which is why private investment should be on the table.”
”“ Carolyn B. Mandelker, president, Harrison Edwards Inc.
”˜Cost cannot be used as an excuse”™
“It is really appalling to me that government would propose a new bridge and not include mass transit in the design. This disregards everything we know that needs to be changed if we want to live in a sustainable world, with better quality of life for all. Reliance on automobiles is bad for the environment and public health and extracts a high socioeconomic cost from regular people.
“As the head of one of Westchester”™s largest nonprofit organizations and as a significant employer, I see our staff members struggle with challenging commutes from counties north and west, where many live because they are priced out of housing in Westchester. Furthermore, as the cost of getting to work rises and salaries remain depressed because of huge budget cuts, we are seeing more frequent absenteeism; simply put, if it costs more to commute and pay for child care, workers will stay home.
“The bridge should provide at least a 50/50 ratio of mass transit to auto. It also should feature a pedestrian/bicycle component to allow commuters to bike to work and to enhance regional tourism. And an extensive public relations campaign by state and local governments, coupled with tax incentives and other inducements to use mass transit, should be a part of the master plan.
“Cost cannot be used as an excuse. Like health care, mass transit can cost whatever we as a society are willing to pay and the allocation of particular costs and values is based on policy and politics ”“ not on absolute numbers. If we were to use a more holistic calculation of the true social, health, national security and other cost of automobiles versus mass transit, we would certainly see things differently.
”“ Georganne Chapin, president and CEO, Hudson Health Plan, Tarrytown
