Appendix B List of Public Comments on the Scoping Information Packet APPENDIX B LIST OF COMMENTS No. Name Date Type Comment 1 Barclay, Suzanne 15-Nov-11 E-mail The Governor, NYS DOT and the FHWA deserve credit for finding a way to accelerate the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement Rockland County Legislature project and making it one of only six transportation projects selected by President Obama to be expedited. Swift replacement of the bridge will help us avert a dreary era of accidents, vehicle weight limits, lane closures and increasing traffic congestion and perhaps worse, as nature and heavy usage cause the bridge’s continued deterioration. In addition, the accelerated project will boost employment in the construction trades that have been so alarmingly affected by our economic doldrums. The proposed design of the replacement bridge solves many of the problems associated with today’s accident and congestion-prone bridge. It will moderately add capacity with a permanent eighth lane, will be much safer with wide shoulders and emergency access lanes, will be less susceptible to congestion caused by slow-climbing trucks, and will provide ample space for crossings by pedestrians and bicyclists. Moreover, we are advised that the future bridge spans are being designed robustly so as to bear the weight of future transit improvements and maximize this public investment. For these reasons, I welcome the announcement about the joint federal-state plan to accelerate the environmental review process for the purpose of obtaining a Record of Decision from the FHWA by next August and issuing construction bids by the second half of 2012. My comments follow regarding scoping for this streamlined review process. 2 Bedell, David 25-Oct-11 Oral Testimony ...what we seem to be doing now is planning as we would in the 1950s, looking only -- right now on the table, all that's being Sleepy Hollow Environmental built is something to deal with cars. And we know this is a dead end from a regional planning perspective, from an Advisory Council environmental perspective. It would be a painful mistake not to think big and try to create something that would last and be useful and be celebrated by 20 generations. 3 Ceccarelli, Gene 12-Nov-11 E-mail Giving our children and their children and so on, more congested highways with lengthy commutes will only drive more and more people out of this region; not to mention the environmental impact of increasing green house gas. This is a horrible legacy, and should be an embarrassment to government officials who would allow it. 4 Englander, Alan L. 9-Nov-11 E-mail Please see the attached file for my formal comments on the current Tappan Zee Hudson River Crossing Project. It was my A L Sustainability, LLC pleasure to have had the opportunity to meet you at the Project Scoping session in West Nyack last month, and please do NOT take any of my comments in the negative sense against you or your staff. I fully realize the challenge that we face, but I still feel the need to provide my constructive thoughts as to future of our region. 5 Heimroth, Heath 15-Nov-11 E-mail We applaud the Administration's collaborative efforts to expedite replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge, a vital crossing to Office of Senator Dilan our State and the Metropolitan Region. We also applaud the Administration's efforts to find an innovative way to finance construction of this megaproject. However, a number of questions and concerns remain about how to ensure that the new Tappan Zee crossing is constructed in a way that ensures that it will sustain the region for the next century's worth of growth. Enclosed you will find a discussion of our preliminary concerns after review of the Rescinded Notice of Intent regarding the original Tappan Zee/I- 287 Corridor project, the new Notice of Intent that will focus a new Environmental Impact Study ("EIS") solely on the Tappan Zee River Crossing, and on the Scoping Information Packet and accompanying public meetings on the new Tappan Zee plan. 6 Hintersteiner, Robert 25-Oct-11 Oral Testimony Now, the Port Authority just raised the tolls for not only cars but trucks. For a 6-axle tractor trailer, it went up from 60 to $78 per trip or $10 to $13 per axle on the truck. The Tappan Zee Bridge is $7 per axle. If there is a $36 difference, they'll use the Tappan Zee Bridge. 7 Hogan, Michael 27-Oct-11 Oral Testimony The 30-mile scope of the original study was shortsighted. This is the largest metropolitan area in the United States, and the fact that more comprehensive traffic solutions were and are not being considered is, frankly, absurd. The policy planners and decision makers must consider the economic, quality of life, and environmental issues, not just replacing a bridge. 8 Johnson, Rod 15-Nov-11 E-mail As a resident in the Village of Piermont, a life long sailor on the Hudson River, and a daily commuter across the Tappan Zee bridge, I consider myself a stakeholder regarding the new Hudson River Tappan Zee Crossing Project. The following comments are offered regarding additional information or issues that should be included in the scope for the Environmental Impact Study. 9 Kassof, Gary 15-Nov-11 E-mail pg 1-5 - a "collision" between a vessel and fixed structure is an "allision" U.S. Coast Guard 10 Kilerciyan, Susan 25-Oct-11 Oral Testimony Plus, it (a tunnel) would eliminate, sadly, the many suicides that take place on this bridge every year, or attempted suicides, that use police and first responders' resources, not to mention the human cost. 11 Lasker, Shirley 27-Oct-11 Oral Testimony We also need to recognize that the expansive population growth we need to tackle is not here, not just in Clarkstown, but Deputy Supervisor, Town of west and north. Rockland should not be treated as a pass-through or the last stop as it has in the past. It needs a bridge Clarkstown and a long-term plan and a solution worthy of its people. 12 Leavy, Patricia E. 15-Nov-11 E-mail Westchester County has reviewed the "Tappan Zee Hudson River Crossing Project Scoping Information Packet," dated On Behalf of Kevin J. Plunkett October 2011, and has prepared the following comments and recommendations for your consideration in the finalization of Office of the County Executive scoping for the environmental impact statement (EIS) that is to be prepared. We look forward to reviewing the written response to these comments and to the comments submitted by other Westchester County municipalities and by the Westchester County County of Rockland. 13 Mills, Michael C. 15-Nov-11 Letter Herein the Village of Elmsford respectfully submits the following in response to the invitation for comments on the scope of Village Administrator, Village of the Tappan Zee Hudson River Crossing Project contained within the project's Notice of Intent issued October 12, 2011. Elmsford Based upon the Village's review of available materials, herein on behalf of Mayor Williams and the Village Board of Trustees I present the following comments. 14 Rapoport, Ms. 25-Oct-11 Oral Testimony [M]y first suggestion would be to improve the NYSTA's radio station that does not work in Suffern... Updating the websites regularly would be helpful. Newspapers and TV and radio would be very helpful to have regular communication with the public. 15 Roach, Thomas M. 16-Nov-11 Letter The City of White Plains is located in the central part of Westchester County and serves as a regional center for business, Mayor, City of White Plains retail, government, and medical services. The City is fortunate in that it is easily accessible from all parts of Westchester County and the Metropolitan Region via the Harlem Division of the Metro-North Commuter Railroad and the Westchester County Bee-Line Bus System as well as by the regional highways I-287, I-684, Bronx River Parkway and Hutchinson River Parkway. The Tappan Zee Bridge is a key component of this roadway network. The City recognizes that it is a beneficiary of and a stakeholder in I-287 infrastructure improvements and generally supports the Tappan Zee Hudson River Crossing Project. 16 Rothbard, Richard 28-Oct-11 E-mail I appreciate the opportunity to comment and look forward to your responses to these questions. I would also like to thank you for your commitment to this project and wish you good luck in moving it to successful completion. 17 Rothbard, Richard 28-Oct-11 E-mail Last night, October 27, my wife and I attended a public scoping meeting at the Palisades Center in West Nyack, NY. We are 30-year residents of Rockland County and have seen many changes over the years, including the tremendous growth in traffic using the Tappan Zee Bridge along with the bridge’s steady deterioration. We wholeheartedly support its replacement, knowing full well how disruptive construction will be, and sympathetic to the many legitimate concerns that residents and businesses on both sides of the river have. 18 Tenenbaum, Hal 15-Nov-11 Letter We live at The Quay of Tarrytown condominium and are extremely concerned regarding the proposed new TZ Bridge that is outlined in the above scoping document. We are requesting a "hard look" during the Environmental Review Process at the impact this will have on our health, quality of life and the financial impact on our home. 19 Teufel, Norbert 14-Nov-11 Letter I need to raise a very unpleasant subject-suicide. Certain people are attracted to places such as bridges to end their lives in spectacular fashion.