ADVISORY COMMITTEE WANTED TO PREPARE FOR TZ BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION--TO INCLUDE RESIDENTS CLOSEST TO BRIDGE

GREENBURGH SUPERVISOR CALLS FOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS QUALITY OF LIFE CONCERNS OF RESIDENTS WHO RESIDE ALONG PATH OF TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE

NOISE, CONSTRUCTION ISSUES, INCONVENIENCES, EVENING WORK--ISSUES NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY STATE, LOCAL OFFICIALS AND RESIDENTS WHO LIVE CLOSEST TO THE BRIDGE

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE GOVERNOR FOR SUPPORTING PLANS TO TURN TZ BRIDGE INTO PARK...TOWN BOARD VOTES TO SUPPORT MASS TRANSIT ON BRIDGE

Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner will be asking NYS officials to create an advisory committee of local officials and residents who reside along the path of the Tappan Zee bridge at Thursday's public hearing to be held at the Marriott Hotel.

The state is focusing its attention on the impacts the bridge will have for the larger community -- commuters, visitors, people who use the bridge for business purposes -interstate commerce, etc... There is another community that deserves attention: people who reside closest to the bridge.

When construction starts there will be tremendous quality of life issues - impacting residents who live closest to the bridge and to neighborhoods along the path to the bridge. It would be great if we could start the dialogue and address ways to mitigate the quality of life disruptions caused by the long construction process. Noise issues, construction related problems, inconveniences, evening work --these are issues that need to be addressed.

Feiner is recommending that NYS officials involved in the bridge planning initiatives schedule a preliminary meeting as soon as possible. And-- that we start the dialogue so that a new bridge construction project could have the least negative impact on the quality of life of residents. There are strategies and recommendations that could be discussed by this advisory group. Representatives of neighborhood associations closest to the bridge, elected officials, public safety officials could participate and join the advisory committee.

Feiner will also thank Governor Andrew Cuomo for supporting the proposal to study the possibility of preserving the old Tappan Zee bridge and turning it into a park. "We can make the Tappan Zee bridge a world class destination point. The state should explore some public/private opportunities that could generate revenue for the state - revenue that could be used to help support the maintenance of the bridge."

Feiner is also a part of a coalition of elected officials and environmentalists pushing for mass transit on the bridge. The Greenburgh Town Board, at their February 28th Town Board meeting, unanimously approved a resolution urging the state to restore dedicated public transportation infrastructure to any and all plans for the replacement of the Tappan Zee bridge, connecting businesses in Rockland and Westchester Counties.