If local New York politicians are working through the five stages of grief over the lack of a comprehensive mass transit system for the new Tappan Zee Bridge, they might be moving closer to acceptance.
On Tuesday’s Brian Lehrer Show, Westchester County executive Rob Astorino — who has criticized Governor Andrew Cuomo’s plans for Tappan Zee Bridge in the past — sounded a conciliatory note.
“We’re basically all on the same page,” Astorino said.
His remarks come after Rockland County Executive Scott Vanderhoef told TN last week that he had dropped his insistence that a full bus rapid transit system be built now.
Vanderhoef said Tuesday on the Brian Lehrer Show that he understood the financial realities. “I agree with the governor’s comment: ultimately, this is being paid for by our residents in some form or fashion. It’s just you can’t think only short term… it has to be long term.”
Ssked if the old bridge would be retained as a bike/pedestrian bridge, Vanderhoef gave a blunt, “No.”
“You’d have to pour an awful lot of money into that existing bridge,” he explained.
Listen to the discussion below:
Kate Hinds is an Associate Producer for WNYC News. She also reports for WNYC and Transportation Nation, a public radio reporting project that combines the work of multiple newsrooms to provide coverage of how we build, rebuild and get around the nation.
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