From the standpoint of Westchester and Rockland County’s economic well-being and ability to address roadway congestion, air quality and to support smart growth, the replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge and the planning for east-west public transit across the I-287 corridor are two of the most significant transportation and land use initiatives before us. If we are to plan effectively for the future of the region, the two (river crossing and east/west transit) cannot be completely separated as the river crossing must be designed to carry the type of transit that the region needs now and will need 50 yeas in the future.
In recognition of the importance of the Hudson River crossing and the I-287 corridor, then Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano and Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef agreed to establish an inter-county taskforce comprised of key members of the public and private sectors, representing land use, environmental, economic, business and development interests, who share a common concern about the future of Westchester and Rockland counties and the region at large. County Executive Robert Astorino has continued to draw on this group of regional leaders for research and advice.
The purpose of the taskforce is to raise awareness of this project, to highlight the importance of its eventual outcome, and to engage key groups and the public in the process. The county executives asked the taskforce to identify ways in which these objectives can be accomplished.
With the assistance of the Westchester County Department of Planning, the Task Force produced a PowerPoint presentation highlighting the importance of the Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 Corridor Project titled "A New Vision: It's Up to Us." View the presentation
Taskforce members
Westchester County:
Dr. Marsha Gordon, Co-Chair, President/CEO, The Business Council of Westchester
Carolyn Cunningham, Federated Conservationists of Westchester
Hon. Drew Fixell, Mayor, Village of Tarrytown
Cheryl Winter Lewy, Chair, County Planning Board
Ross Pepe, President, Construction Industry Council
Robert Weinberg, President, Robert Martin Company
Rockland County:
Hon. Catherine Nowicki, Co-Chair, Town of Clarkstown
Hon. Harriet D. Cornell, Chair, Rockland County Legislature
Catherine Dodge, Rockland County Conservation Assoc. and Orangetown Parks Commission
Patrick Gerdin, Principal Transportation Planner, Rockland Transportation/Planning Department
Jack Holt, CEO, Holt Construction
John Maraia, President, IBEW Local Union 363
Francis Pratt, Nyack Hospital
Ernie Salerno, former MTA board member
Al Samuels, President, Rockland Business Association
Taskforce Accomplishments:
- Created on-going program to educate taskforce members on key regional transportation needs and studies.
- Invited study agencies to meetings and obtained commitments to get move study moving again and develop a new timeline.
- Reviewed, critiqued and revised study agencies’ proposed public presentation.
- Identified "missing" information or topics and questions that require future study.
- Identified the need to expand the study agency’s viewpoint beyond the immediate needs and objectives to a more comprehensive regional vision that can generate public interest and excitement.
- Prepared “A new vision. It’s up to us.”-a PowerPoint presentation that places the study into a regional and larger vision context.
- Co-chairs engaged in discussions of study at numerous public forums, often including the PowerPoint presentation.
- Prompted study agencies to prepare and to distribute a timeframe with target dates for completion of key components of the EIS process.
- Initiated direct outreach to key employers and organizations, such as Kraft Foods, to raise awareness of the study and demonstrate its importance to the regional economy and quality of life.
- Approved planning for briefing session for the State legislative delegation to be hosted by Rockland Business Association.
- Continued to explore initiatives to extend discussion/outreach to tri-state agencies and councils.
- Committed to monitoring study agencies on their adherence to timelines to keep the study progressing, and on developing public forums in which to present and discuss findings.
- Developed an assessment of the study to-date and outlined recommended transit objectives.
- Prepared 2007 year-end report to County Executives highlighting concerns in the study’s progress.
- Participated in February 2008 I-287 outreach meeting for municipal officials along I-287 in Westchester organized by the Westchester County Planning Department and County Planning Board.
- Participated in second I-287 roundtable meeting for municipal officials along I-287 in Westchester organizing by Westchester County Planning Department and County Planning Board, November 2008.
Taskforce co-chair presentations of the project
2005
Rockland County Conservation Association - November 27, 2005
Westchester EXPO - December 16
Westchester County Planning Board and County Transportation Board - December 20
2006
Clarkstown Town Board - January 24, 2006
The Business Council of Westchester, Mount Pleasant- January 25
Westchester Area Development Council (of Business Council) – February 17
Federated Conservationists of Westchester, Greenburgh – March 13
Hudson Valley Economic Summit, Middletown – March 24
Inter-Metropolitan Planning Organization (IMPO), Mount Vernon – June 26
Mobility Advisory Committee (MAC) – June 28
Westchester County Association, Mount Pleasant – June 29
Public forum, Tarrytown Marriott – November 2
2007
White Plains Old Guard – February 6, 2007
Presentations Given to the Task Force
2009
NYSDOT presents update on scoping and financial study. 7/20/2009
View the presentation (4MB PDF)
2010
NYSDOT presents a comprehensive overview of the progress of the non-ended project October 14, 2010.
View the presentation
Contact Information
If you have questions for the Westchester County Department of Planning, contact Ed Buroughs at