At a citizens meeting called by Concerned Citizens for Riverfront Development in Nyack on Wednesday evening, a representative for Congressman Ben Gilman said the Congressman and Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef had recently met with Governor Pataki to discuss issues regarding the Thruway Authority's desire to build a new crossing in place of the Tappan Zee Bridge. Gilman's representative reported only that the Governor was aware of concerns about the plan in Rockland County. These include the potential for traffic increases and the fact that the Thruway is rushing to plan a new bridge when mass transit plans for the Rockland-Westchester corridor are sketchy and seem financially fantastical.

Gilman's spokesperson said the Congressman was a strong supporter of reviving passenger service on the West Shore rail line.

Orangetown supervisor Thom Kleiner urged transportation agencies to exhaust potential traffic demand management and near-term transit options before considering a new river crossing, and many citizens continued to question the traffic and highway development consequences of the Thruway's plan.

Still, there was also evidence of some sideways thinking at the meeting. A resolution likely to be introduced in the Rockland County legislature puts strong emphasis on studying construction of a Tappan Zee tunnel, but this doesn't address the big issues of traffic generation or transit feasibility. Likewise, emphasis on the design details of a new bridge blurs focus on the question of whether or not a new bridge is necessary or beneficial.
 

• Implement congestion-relief pricing policies recommended in the Thruway's recent Tappan Zee toll policy study.
• Change the Tappan-Zee reversible lane into a transit-way for buses, vans and carpools.
• Restore West Shore line passenger service, with northern terminus in Haverstraw or West Nyack.
• Develop detailed feasibility and financing plans for Rockland-Westchester transit options before beginning Tappan Zee II environmental studies .

Tuesday, March 21, 6 pm Chamber of Commerce of the Nyacks general membership meeting and panel discussion: "The Tappan Zee Bridge? Nyack Needs to Know." Seaport Center, 21 Burd St. 914-353-2221 coc@spyral.net

Thursday, March 23 T-Z Bridge Forum sponsored by Assemblymember Alexander Gromack. Time, location TBA 914-634-9791.

Friday, March 24 Congressman Ben Gilman's town meeting on transportation issues. With Governor Pataki's Rockland County aide. Time, location TBA. 914-343-6666.