January - February 2006

NYBC Update: Tappan Zee Bridge Bikeway Proposed

On December 12th and 13th the Thruway Authority, New York State Department of Transportation, and the Metropolitan Transit Authority held public meetings to discuss the designs for a replacement for the 50-year-old Tappan Zee Bridge.

There is no bicycle or pedestrian crossing at this location or for the entire 33 miles of the lower Hudson Valley. At the meeting, NYBC advocated adding a crossing as a high priority project.

The project sponsors agreed at the meeting that all new bridge options that will be considered will include a bikeway/walkway facility. The crossing will be connected to the trails and bikeways located on the Westchester and Rockland County shorelines of the Hudson.

It may not be possible to add the walkway/bikeway with an option that only attempts to repair the existing bridge. However, because repairs may not be able to satisfy many other requirements, most options being considered involve a new bridge with the bikeway.

During the next two years, studies will determine the proposed option for the bridge.

NYBC expects to participate in the aspects that involve the bicycle / pedestrian crossing.

Also, on October 6th, the Automobile Club of New York presented the NYBC with the Outstanding Achievement Award in Traffic Safety in recognition of their efforts to educate motorists on safely sharing the road with bicyclists and pedestrians.

For more information on the award or the Share the Road program contact NYBC at 518-436-0889.

Joshua Poppel, Executive Director
New York Bicycling Coalition
jpoppel@hotmail.com

Mr. Poppel will be March’s guest speaker at the 5BBC general meeting.