Filed Under: Environmental Issues | Westchester | Transportation

Bridge Traffic

While Westchester and its economy are growing, the capacity of its roads remains static; no new major roads have been built in the County since 1981. State Transportation Department officials, long accustomed to solving problems by building bigger roads, acknowledge that widening the roads is now often the least feasible option. Space is in short supply, construction costs are high, and citizen opposition is organized and vigorous.

Proposals to alleviate traffic volume and congestion face daunting obstacles. The unpopularity of high occupancy vehicle lanes inspired successful citizen opposition to their use on I-287. Variable tolls on the Tappan Zee Bridge have also been proposed as a means of decreasing congestion by allowing discounted prices for E-Z Pass users and no discount options for single-occupancy vehicles. Other proposals focus on reconfiguring access and egress to and from major arteries.

Long-term solutions depend on moderating volume. Strategies include: variable tolls (that encourage off-peak travel); fast and reliable public transportation and land use planning that steers development toward town and city centers. Affordable housing is also part of the solution, as service and retail workers are forced further from their jobs due to the very high cost of living in Westchester County.

State and County Initiatives

In 1998, New York’s Governor appointed a County advisory committee to the State task force studying the I-287 impasse. Business, labor, environmental, political leaders and transportation officials recommended a diverse set of proposals: dedicating lanes to mass transit during rush hours, imposing higher rush hour tolls, banning commercial vehicles during rush hours, sacrificing a traffic lane for a light commuter rail line, building mass transit west of the Hudson River, constructing express train stations in Westchester County, adding an additional deck to the Tappan Zee Bridge, and building a second bridge across the Hudson River.

The New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA) and MTA Metro-North Railroad have established a Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 Environmental Review. The purpose of the study is to identify and evaluate alternative proposals to address the transportation needs of the Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 Corridor. In the first stage over 150 proposals were presented. Proposals included upgrading the current bridge, a new bridge, with or without a rail component (heavy or light rail), and a tunnel. The proposals have been narrowed down to 15 scenarios that will be further refined to 5 or 6 finalists. Estimates of cost range up to $20 billion for a replacement bridge or tunnel with a mass transportation component. Details of the process and information on public meetings are available at www.tzbsite.com.

In the meantime, congestion on the bridge is somewhat relieved by the Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry that takes commuters from the Haverstraw Dock to Metro-North’s Ossining Station, saving commuters up to 20 minutes of travel time.

Through its participation in the NY Metropolitan Transportation Council and its power to allocate federal and State funds, County government can target both transportation priorities and non-transportation strategies to reduce traffic congestion. The County has initiated a system of combined fares called the "uniticket" between popular transit options such as the Bee-Line Bus System, Metro-North Commuter Rail, New York City subways and buses, and the Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry. Uniticket commuters also have a guaranteed ride home if they have to leave the office early or if they work after-hours.

Another County initiative that is successfully tackling Westchester’s traffic congestion is the Smart Commute Program, which encourages companies and their employees to use public transportation or other alternatives to driving alone to work. Offered to all County businesses free of charge, the Smart Commute Program provides information about telecommuting, car-pooling, public transportation, biking, walking and flexible work schedules. The Program also details new state and federal commuting options such as the Federal Commuter Choice Program, which allows employers to give a new federal pre-tax benefit of $100 per month to ride-sharing employees.

What you can do:

1. Use public transport as much as possible to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.

2. Carpool and rideshare as much as possible.

3. Consider walking and cycling whenever practicable.

4. Attend local public meetings and show support for transit projects, such as mass transportation being part of the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement

5. Consider a hybrid or fuel-efficient car.

6. Get involved with local civic organizations that campaign for better public transport such as the Tri-State Transportation Campaign.

Parties Involved: (contact information in chapter 7)

US Government
Army Corps of Engineers, Congress, Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Interior, and Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency.

New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of State, Governor, Legislature.

Regional
Interstate 287 Task Force Advisory Council, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York City Department of Environmental Protection, New York Metropolitan Transportation Council, Regional Plan Association, Rockland County Economic Development Council, Tri-County Transportation Council.

Westchester County
Board of Legislators, County Executive, Departments of Economic Development, Environmental Facilities, Health, Planning, Public Works, and Transportation.

Local
City, Town and Village Councils and Boards, Planning Board, Zoning Board, engineering, Highway and Planning Departments, Citizen Boards, Commissions and Councils.

Nongovernmental Agencies
Builders Institute, Construction Industry Council of Westchester, County and local Chambers of Commerce, Environmental Defense, Federated Conservationists of Westchester County, Westchester County Association, Tri-State Transportation Campaign.