First , now governor Andrew Cuomo.
Government leaders want a new Tappan Zee Bridge, fast.
In Cuomo's State of the State address Wednesday afternoon, the Democrat lawmaker called for an end to deliberating and a start to building.
"15 years of planning and talking and commiserating is too long," he said in regard to the proposed new crossing. "It's time to build and act and perform."
Cuomo added that the state intends to increase infrastructure replacement and restructuring across the board.
"We want to accelerate the construction—it can't take three years to put a shovel in the ground," he said. "We plan to improve over 100 bridges."
Cuomo's call for a new Hudson span comes on the heels of a scoping plan that notes the bridge will likely be constructed , a decision that has chagrined a legion of local residents and politicians.
The price-tag for a car-only bridge hovers around $5.2 billion; with rail and bus transport, the bill rises to around $16 billion.
Currently, the ailing, 50-year-old span costs about . (Based on the $500 million spent in repairs over 10 years.)
Local leaders echoed Cuomo's sentiment and weighed in on his address.
"I will work to bring economic development through infrastructure investments; specifically a new Tappan Zee Bridge," said Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski (D-New City) Wednesday afternoon.
Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee (D-Suffern) agreed.
"I am thrilled the governor has redoubled his pledge to invest in job-creating infrastructure projects, most notably in building a new Tappan Zee bridge," she said. "The scale and cost of this project will require his active and determined leadership, and I welcome his involvement in making this project a reality at long last."
Learn more about the proposed new bridge .
