More Info on Rockland NY Thruway "4th Lane" HOV Project
Scenic Hudson has uncovered more information on the proposed I-287 4th lane construction project in Rockland County spotted a few weeks ago in the NY Thruway Authority's portion of the Mid-Hudson South Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The 12-mile addition of a lane in each direction from the Tappan Zee Bridge west is contingent on construction of the proposed (and contested) addition of carpool lanes to the Cross Westchester Expressway. The only details about the project appear in the TIP (Item H 24) and in the soon-to-be released DEIS on the Cross Westchester project. The TIP says the new lanes will extend to Suffern, but according to Keith Giles at the Thruway Authority's Tarrytown office, the logical terminus has not yet been determined. He said siting of new Park-and-Ride lots would influence the terminus location; possibilities include the Palisades Interstate Parkway, the Garden State Parkway, or Route 303. The DEIS references indicate that additional capacity will be needed in Rockland to match increases in Westchester. Traffic counts at the bridge are 120,000/day; west of the Spring Valley toll booths, they drop to 60,000/day. Since current interim pavement rehab work between the Tappan Zee and the Spring Valley tolls is slated to endure for five or six years, it appears the plan is to build the Rockland HOV lane at the same time as new repairs are needed. Contact Carol Sondheimer or Jeff Anzevino, Scenic Hudson 914-473-4440.
