Low Turnout at Toll Advisory Panel Meetings

Thinking I’d be unable to drive due to the ace bandage on my right wrist and hand I emailed my comments to the Toll Advisory Panel instead of going to the meeting in Tarrytown last night.

The hand surgery didn’t happen by quirk and by fate so I spent the past week meeting staff and getting to know residents at the nursing home where mom is temporarily staying. Things worked out well in that respect.

Surgery was rescheduled. About the toll meetings . . .

Why did the panel hear comments only one night in each county? Why wasn’t there a public comment period open for one month or three months or six months? It’s mid-July and sweltering outside; that plus a horrific rainstorm may have contributed to the low turnout last night and (although it didn’t rain as heavily) tonight.

Less than 100 people addressed the panel; how many others submitted written comments? Will those comments be made public? The governor’s task force and his comments nearly five years ago never came to fruition; let’s see what happens next.

I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2019

Advisory Panel to hear Residents’ Input and Suggestions for Toll Relief on New Bridge

A new, four-person panel will take the first step toward toll relief solutions for Westchester and Rockland residents who cross the new Cuomo Bridge via two public sessions next week from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, will be at the Westchester Marriott, 670 White Plains Road, Tarrytown, and Thursday, July 18, will be at The Time Nyack Hotel, 400 High Ave.

Listening without responding to each person, who has two minutes to speak, will be Robert Megna – Co-Chair, Joan McDonald, Heather Briccetti and Mario Cilento. Those who want to speak must sign up for a two-minute chance to address the panel, which will only listen and will not take questions.

The public can also submit comments to TollAdvisoryPanel@thruway.ny.gov.

Let’s hope the group of four does more than the mass transit task force, which said we need bus rapid transit and left it to others to implement the decision.

“Who will take the initiative to make sure the recommendations will move forward?” State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (88th District) asked at the final transit meeting in February 2014. Then-state DOT Commissioner Joan McDonald replied, “Our charge was to make recommendations. It’s up to the governor and the Thruway Authority to see what are the next steps.”

Tolls on the Cuomo Bridge are $5 through the end of December 2020.

I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2019

Happy Anniversary to Six Years of Blogging

They look so close to each other, stay cables and the cantilever truss structure. That’s what I thought driving home as cars well above the speed limit passed me.

The day was a break from a difficult week, a chance to disconnect temporarily. I’ve been covering this project for the past seven years, blogging about it for six, and sometimes include personal posts. I need to write, It keeps me going.

Obama fast-tracked the TZB project/© Janie Rosman 2014

Seeing President Obama, even from afar, when he came to Tarrytown five years ago, was a highlight as were watching the super crane place the first steel girder assembly and walking on the westbound span opening day ceremonies and freezing my bum during the topping off ceremony for the main span towers.

Governor Cuomo and your intrepid reporter/Phil Little

And the boat trips and umpteen photos and meeting the governor who, initially surprised and maybe wondering what the gutsy reporter walking toward him would ask or say, was friendly and seemed relieved no questions were asked. It was my intent to introduce myself, and as he stood there alone, I took the opportunity.

A favorite souvenir is the tiny, heavy sample from the new structure that keeps the papers on my desk from rearranging themselves when the window’s open.

I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2019

Five Dollars for the Next 16 Months, and Then?

“We don’t know how much we will we get from the federal government, how much we will get from the state; there are state loans and grants we can access,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said nearly four years ago.

He was fielding questions about tolls and the task force he proposed in 2012 to address them while in Piermont to greet the newly-arrived super crane.

“Additional unknowns are the built-in contract incentives for Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) to finish the project before spring 2018 or penalties for completing it later. Once you have those numbers, then you can come up with a plan about how to do it, what commuters should pay, on-hour, off-hour, etc.,” he said.

The governor assured the task force will be formed “I think within the next year, certainly,” and commuters “should have to pay as little as possible.” Rumors have been that tolls could run as high as $14 per vehicle, but state officials have downplayed that possibility.

When asked about fares on the new bridge during last week’s primary debate with Democratic gubernatorial challenger Cynthia Nixon, Cuomo reiterated Thruway tolls will remain the same until at least 2020; fees going forward would depend on the state’s finances at the time. No mention of the task force that, per the Journal News, has disappeared.

What happened to those additional unknowns Cuomo cited four years ago? What happened to potential commuter discount options and a resident discount program? By the way, it’s coming around to fall 2018. Does this mean penalties for TZC will be factored into the new bridge’s tolls?

I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2018

First Steel Beam from TZB: new Marine Life

Dropping the first steel beam to become part of the Shinnecock Reef in Hampton Bays. More than 1,000 tons of clean, recycled material from the former Tappan Zee Bridge and @nysdot projects were added to the artificial reef to create new marine habitat! 🐠🐟🐡 pic.twitter.com/amvLnE1V3U

— NYSDOT (@NYSDOT) May 31, 2018

“We are stewards for a brief period of time on this earth then we hand it off to the next generation. And our responsibility is to hand if off better and we will,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said. “If you are a bridge, the afterlife is you still serve a purpose. You don’t go up, you go down.”

I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2018