SAVE THE DATE: TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE PUBLIC HEARING MARCH 1 4-9 PM, Westchester Marriott--The Tappan Zee Hudson River Crossing project is progressing. As part of the process a Draft Environmental Impact Statement has been produced. The DEIS is available at the project website: www.tzbsite.com.

The DEIS examines the potential environmental effects of proposed alternatives for the TZ bridge project and where adverse impacts are identified it discusses measures to mitigate them. A public hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, March 1, 2012 at the Westchester Marriott, Grand Ballroom, 670 White Plains Road, Tarrytown from 4 to 9 pm. If you can't get to the hearing in Westchester there will be a public hearing in Rockland on Tuesday, Feb 28 at the Palisades Center, 4th floor community rooms from 409 pm. Presentations will be made at 5 and 7 PM.

My thoughts about the bridge: I have suggested that NYS conduct a feasibility study to determine whether saving the bridge and turning it into a suburban version of the NYC highline (or Poughkeepsie Walkway over the Hudson) is economically feasible. Check out our website: www.tappanbridgepark.com for more information about this suggestion. Lots of people support this initiative --including White Plains Councilwoman Milagros Lecuona and Assemblyman Tom Abinanti (who sponsored a press conference last month in his office). The Bicycle alliance of Westchester/Putnam also is supportive.

I also have suggested that the new bridge, once built, include public transportation (rail or rapid bus). In my opinion, it makes little sense to replace an antiquated bridge with a new bridge that is outdated on day one!

Finally - I have contacted NYS officials and have asked them to make sure that there are no cost overruns on the bridge construction. Two of the companies that have expressed interest in bidding on the project have had a history of significant cost overruns (I-287 project). The bidding process should not be manipulated.

PAUL FEINER