Here is Abinanti’s statement. The Thruway Authority’s statement is below:
ABINANTI PROPOSES NEW TAPPAN ZEE PLANUrges one new structure
(Tarrytown) Assemblyman Tom Abinanti is urging a modification of the proposed Tappan Zee crossing plan to save money and make the project “community friendly.” Abinanti is calling for construction of one new structure rather than two. Abinanti represents the Westchester Hudson-River communities that border the Tappan Zee Bridge.
“I applaud Governor Andrew Cuomo’s expressed concern about the currently estimated costs of the Tappan Zee project and the expected negative impacts on the neighboring communities,” said Abinanti. “To reduce cost and community impacts, the plan should be modified to construct one new structure with continued use of the existing bridge for buses and greenway/recreation purposes instead of building two new bridges.”
“Construction of one bridge will cost far less than two and require far less of an intrusion on the community. Restricted use of the existing bridge will prolong its life with minimal additional maintenance,“ said the Assemblyman. “Why spend additional millions to tear down and haul away the current bridge? Why waste the millions already spent to keep it safe and useable?”
Here’s the Thruway statement:
STATEMENT FROM DAN WEILLER,NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Tom Abinanti’s uninformed and completely unworkable plan is an indication of just how little he understands about Governor Cuomo’s plan to replace the Tappan Zee with a new bridge, and shows that he is ignoring the views expressed by his constituents and other local residents.
Citizens and elected leaders throughout the Hudson Valley have emphasized the importance of building a crossing that will be able to accommodate commuter rail or bus rapid transit, which would be extremely difficult if not impossible to do on a single span.
Even if it was only used for limited purposes, the existing bridge would still require a structural overhaul costing billions, adding to the overall cost of the project and leading to higher tolls.
The new bridge will ‘land’ on either side of the river in the same locations as the existing one. Maintaining the existing bridge along with a new structure would require the taking of private property in Tarrytown and South Nyack to create approaches to the new bridge.
Mr. Abinanti’s plan is nothing but a call for higher tolls, community disruption and a new bridge without mass transit capability.
We encourage Mr. Abinanti to do what so many other local elected officials have already done: Talk to the design and engineering experts and Thruway staff in order to understand the engineering specifications that are the basis on which proposals have been submitted. Had he already done so, he would understand why his plan is so ill-advised.
6 Comments
This bridge is going to be the cause of financial ruin for Westchester County and officially chase the middle class out of it.
If God meant for us to have bridges, he would have long long ago had them built all over the world by angels with devils in the toll booths.
Pataki was a bogus fool who could not get this done.
But we wasted millions on NYS DOT studies and engineering studies from highly paid contractors who contribute to pols.
Someone in “The House of The Permanent Alien Speaker of The NY Assembly’s Office” benefited directly!
The “Money Spent” was not Just ” wasted” ... Something happened and after retiring Mr.Pataki ( only) went in silent disapreance!
But! Someone in The Household kept going!.. It very big money! But she did not get caught DWI!
Very few people know otherwise!
HABIBHASAN-An American Storyteller
Abinanti’s suggestion is a well-founded and reasonable compromise. The Thruway rep’s over-the-top response is bizarre.
In fact, the bridge’s lifespan can be extended significantly by decreasing its loads. Reducing the number of car lanes to its original configuration is one way to do this. (Start tomorrow!)
Abinanti is onto something here, and he seems to have those who want to blow taxpayer dollars on a boondoggle a bit shaken.
Keep it up, Tom! It is why you got elected!
The Thruway Authority’s response to the Democrat Abinanti is surprisingly strident and caustic, especially wherein it refers to “Cuomo’s plan.” Sounds very loudly like Andy Cuomo has very little regard for this guy personally, though a fellow Dem.