The proposed new Tappan Zee Bridge has its share of critics, be they or Rocklanders .
But few groups are as vehement as Riverkeeper, the Hudson Valley non-profit that seeks to preserve the river's ecology.
Phillip Musegass, the non-profit's Hudson River Program Director, on the negative impacts a new span would usher in, beginning with the effect on an endanger fish population.
"There are less than 1,000 Atlantic sturgeon in the Hudson that are capable of reproducing," Musegass said. The sturgeon is one of the world's oldest fish species.
Musegass said the the state is carrying out may kill the sturgeon, or drive them from their habitat.
Bridge engineers and biologists, however, have said the state is taking measures to ensure the test pilings being driven into the river's floor do not disturb the native species; read more about that .
Musegass also picked apart the state's , noting Riverkeeper will not sit idly while it is tweaked and finalized.
"The project as it stands now—Riverkeeper will go to court to stop it," he said.
The group recently released comprehensive comments and criticisms of the new span, and urged residents to continuing their protests.
"Now that the DEIS comment period has closed, please do not fall silent," said John Lipscomb, the organization's Patrol Boat and Water Quality Program Manager. "Please contact the governor and request that the Hudson ecosystem be protected and request a fully democratic process with meaningful public and community participation."
Among Riverkeeper's worries are an uptick in greenhouse gases, lack of rail and bus transit and possible pricey toll hikes.
The organization also asks the state to delve deeper into possible alternatives, like a .
But, for cryin-out-loud, build it correctly this time, include public transportation, and correct the further desecration of South Nyack that was foisted upon it in the 1950's. Governor Coumo...fix those land grabbing entrance/exit ramps in South Nyack and make new parkland out of this waste of real estate space.
I think it's great that the Riverkeeper is considering a lawsuit. I hope they do it.
Spoken like a true politician. How many hours have you spent working on or under the bridge? My guess is zero. The bridge is open but the reason for replacement is that it is increasingly becoming more likely that it will be shut down or fail. As far as no mass transit, please tell me how you would pay for train service? The bridge, as designed, will be ready from day one for bus transit or rail as soon as it is viable. But I am sure you or some other misinformed group will try to squash that. Once construction starts, the prudent thing to do is to start the process for rapid transit/rail so it can be added soon after completion. By the way, I personally have spent thousands of hours working on the bridge and represent men and women who have logged thousands more.
https://www.dot.ny.gov/main/bridgedata/repository/RocklandBridgeData.pdf You can see that the TZ is rated "FO" which means it's "functionally obsolete"- it's not wide enough, doesn't have shoulders etc. Look at how many other bridges are labeled as "FO". But also take a look at how many are categorized as "SD"- or structurally deficient. Do you see anyone rushing to replace those bridges even though have been found to be structurally deficient-that is to say, dangerous and in far worse shape than the TZ? The deck replacement is nearly complete, the pier protection was put in in the last 10 years- nearly a billion dollars has been put into the bridge to repair it. Should we throw that all away? Stop scaring people. Even if you work on the bridge you are not qualified to make an assessment on it's condition- the engineers tell us it is not structurally deficient. Just look at the data please
For 10 years, NYS officials told the public that it makes no sense to build a new bridge withouit mass transit. Now they've flip-flopped 100% and told us to replace an old, obsolete bridge with a new bridge that will be obsolete on Day One. That is what makes no sense. Officials backing TZII make no pretense that it will improve regional air quality or reduce regional congestion -- it's become a jobs bill, pure and simple, for the construction industry, which will no doubt reward its political patrons with endorsements and cash. And if you think that mass transit will be retrofitted, ask the residents of Fort Lee how that commuter rail is doing across the lower level of the George Washington Bridge. I hope the Riverkeeper suit is successful so that the project can be stopped in its tracks until there is money to build it with mass transit from the beginning. Do it once and do it right.
New York State government is a pip. Either you get enormous dysfunction as we've had since every Governor since Hugh Carey, or dictatorial mandates which Governor Andrew is deciding for us. Both methods stink. How about a little populism and democracy from now on.