Metro-North has no money for cross-Hudson rail in TZ Bridge project, says Karben
Assemblyman Ryan Karben of Rockland questioned Metro-North officials about the agency's plans to fund mass transit as part of any replacement or repair of the Tappan Zee Bridge during an Assembly hearing in White Plains yesterday.
In testimony before the Assembly Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions, Metro-North President Peter Cannito said the Final Environmental Impact Statement concerning the Tappan Zee Bridge project will be concluded in 2007 or 2008.
Karben noted that Metro-North's capital plan extends beyond that time, to 2009. It makes no financial provision for anything beyond the planning phase that will conclude with the FEIS.
"The failure of the MTA to make a down payment for cross-Hudson rail in its next capital plan increases speculation that Tappan Zee solutions will be pollution increasing, rather than pollution decreasing," Karben said. "Unless a new or rehabilitated cross-Hudson span has a mass transit component, all Rockland will get is more pollution and traffic."
Karben, meanwhile, is introducing legislation with other Hudson Valley lawmakers that would double the voting strength of Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Dutchess counties on the MTA's Board of Directors from one to two collective votes.
http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/MN_TZB-23Nov04.htm
Assemblyman Ryan Karben of Rockland questioned Metro-North officials about the agency's plans to fund mass transit as part of any replacement or repair of the Tappan Zee Bridge during an Assembly hearing in White Plains yesterday.
In testimony before the Assembly Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions, Metro-North President Peter Cannito said the Final Environmental Impact Statement concerning the Tappan Zee Bridge project will be concluded in 2007 or 2008.
Karben noted that Metro-North's capital plan extends beyond that time, to 2009. It makes no financial provision for anything beyond the planning phase that will conclude with the FEIS.
"The failure of the MTA to make a down payment for cross-Hudson rail in its next capital plan increases speculation that Tappan Zee solutions will be pollution increasing, rather than pollution decreasing," Karben said. "Unless a new or rehabilitated cross-Hudson span has a mass transit component, all Rockland will get is more pollution and traffic."
Karben, meanwhile, is introducing legislation with other Hudson Valley lawmakers that would double the voting strength of Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Dutchess counties on the MTA's Board of Directors from one to two collective votes.
http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/MN_TZB-23Nov04.htm