- "The Tappan Zee Bridge is a vital project for the area, the region and the nation. While its economic effects are widespread, the immediate effect is on the people of Rockland and Westchester Counties. The Department of Transportation is performing a great service in holding public hearings in both counties to allow these people to have their say in the rebuilding of the bridge."
— Eliot Engel - Congressman
- "Governor Cuomo knows that the reconstruction of the Tappan Zee Bridge is vital to New York’s economy and he has taken the necessary steps to ensure that the project progresses as rapidly as possible. The new bridge will reduce congestion, provide greater safety and will include an immediate dedicated express lane, making the new bridge fully transit capable. Under the Governor’s time line, it is clear that the new bridge will continue to be a crucial artery between Westchester and Rockland counties. I look forward to continuing my work with Governor Cuomo and putting New Yorkers back to work.”
— Nan Hayworth - Congresswoman
- "Rebuilding the Tappan Zee Bridge is critical for enhancing the safety of motorists, creating well-paying jobs, and meeting the transportation needs of our growing region. I am pleased President Obama expedited permitting and environmental review for the new bridge, and I stand ready to work with Governor Cuomo and the Congressional delegation to ensure the federal government continues to do its part to facilitate this important project."
— Nita Lowey - Congresswoman
- "I thank the Governor for taking on the Tappan Zee Bridge project, which had gone stale from endless discussions, and turning it into a reality through decisive leadership. Fast-tracking the replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge after years of planning will provide New Yorkers with much needed jobs and bring economic growth for our region and beyond. With an immediate dedicated express lane, New Yorkers can look forward to full transit capability and I look forward to breaking ground on the new Tappan Zee Bridge with Governor Cuomo."
— David Carlucci - State Senator
- “Replacing the aging Tappan Zee Bridge is long overdue, and Governor Cuomo is right to take advantage of this opportunity to expedite construction and secure federal funding for this much-needed project. Building the new bridge will create thousands of jobs in our area, restore a critical component of our infrastructure and provide a structure wide enough to accommodate future mass transit. I share the Governor’s commitment to develop a viable off-site plan for mass transit while construction of the new bridge moves forward.”
— Suzi Oppenheimer - State Senator
- "The momentum for the new Tappan Zee Bridge is moving forward, and President Obama and Governor Cuomo have made it a priority for our nation and state. The critical issue of adding mass transit to the bridge in the future remains, and I will continue to advocate for it. But there is no doubt that this project will create thousands of much needed jobs in our region and help make our infrastructure safer and more stable. At this crucial stage, the public needs to remain involved, so I encourage all who wish to weigh in to attend this Thursday's public hearing."
— Andrea Stewart-Cousins - Senator
- "In the interest of public safety, our best option is to move forward with the Tappan Zee Bridge construction as soon as possible, allowing for all the legal steps for review. Without this new bridge, there will be no mass transit and I am confident that when the state's economy improves there will be opportunity to provide an additional full bus rapid transit system or other transportation options that will go through Rockland and Westchester counties.”
— Ellen Jaffe - Assemblywoman
- "The public hearings on the new Tappan Zee Bridge demonstrate that we are moving full steam ahead with the goal of breaking ground later this year. I applaud the Governor's commitment to ensure that the new bridge project is fast tracked and has the full capacity of mass transit for the future. This project is critical to our aging infrastructure and will invigorate our regional economy by creating thousands of jobs."
— Kenneth P. Zebrowski - Assemblyman
- "Governor Cuomo has presented a practical plan for the construction of a new Tappan Zee Bridge as he puts New York back on the road to recovery, creating thousands of jobs along the way. With its continuing deterioration, this essential corridor in the Hudson Valley is in dire need of help. The Governor’s proposal will build a new, safer structure for thousands of motorists in a cost-effective timeline by building a sturdy bridge and dedicating a lane for mass transit to be added in the near future. I applaud Governor Cuomo for making the Tappan Zee Bridge and the Hudson Valley communities a priority among his initiatives to rebuild the state’s economy and infrastructure."
— George Latimer - Assemblyman
- “I congratulate Governor Cuomo on his swift action to secure the funds to start the construction of a new and improved Tappan Zee Bridge. I know he shares my concern that we do not build a bridge that is obsolete upon completion, but rather a bridge to sustain us in the coming decades, and accommodate the need for mass-transit and heavy rail. While it would be nice to have all these at once, the reality of potential revenue sources requires us, after fifteen years of discussion, to take some action, and get New Yorkers back to work. I applaud his continued commitment to do so in a prudent, yet expeditious manner.”
— Robert J. Castelli - Assemblyman
- "We need to start construction of a new community friendly Tappan Zee Bridge as soon as possible."
— Thomas Abinanti - Assemblyman
- “After more than a decade of debate that has led nowhere, Governor Cuomo stepped in with a sensible plan for a new Tappan Zee Bridge, proposing to build a bridge for the future by using the resources available today. The new Tappan Zee Bridge will be built with a dedicated express bus lane so that it will be able to accommodate future mass transit options when our government has the money. Furthermore, the Governor’s plan will generate thousands of jobs and much-needed economic activity. We can start planning the implementation of a mass transit system, but I am eager to see construction of the bridge begin now.”
— Ken Jenkins - Chairman, Westchester County Board of Legislators
- "A new river crossing that addresses and corrects the substandard structural, operational, mobility, safety and security features of the existing bridge is essential for the future economic well-being of Rockland and the lower Hudson Valley. Governor Cuomo found a way to jump start and accelerate the bridge project. I look forward to working with him to ensure a bridge that is not only visually beautiful, but also maximizes the public investment by planning for mass transit when funds become available."
— Harriet Cornell - Chairwoman, Rockland County Legislature
- “After years of inaction, Governor Cuomo has made real progress towards replacing this deteriorating piece of infrastructure with a stronger, safer and more efficient Tappan Zee Bridge. The Governor’s accelerated plan demonstrates his commitment to creating jobs and sustainable economic development opportunities that will greatly benefit local communities in the Hudson Valley, as well as preserving this crucial artery for New Yorkers. I congratulate the Governor on this significant progress and am eager to help him complete the next steps in building the new bridge.”
— Mayor Mike Spano - Yonkers
- “I commend the cooperative effort of Governor Cuomo, the New York State Department of Transportation, New York State Thruway Authority, and the Federal Highway Administration as they work together to expedite the rebuilding of one of the region's most important infrastructures the Tappan Zee Bridge.”
— Mayor Robert Williams - Village of Elmsford
- "This is a vital project not only for New York State, but a project of regional and national significance. The existing traffic choked bridge is near the end of its useful life. A new bridge will assure regional mobility, mitigate traffic congestion and enhance the safety for the traveling public. We commend Governor Cuomo, for moving this critical project forward in an expedited fashion, and making replacement of this outdated bridge a priority for quick action."
— John A. Corlett - Legislative Committee Chair, AAA New York State Inc.
- "Based on the assessment of the project's limited funding opportunities for the foreseeable future, the decision to exclude the complete build out of a mass transit program was a wise decision. Based on the reality of the funding that is now available, the new Tappan Zee Hudson River Crossing Project will not preclude the planning, design, construction or consideration of future transit modes through the Tappan Zee corridor."
— Al Samuels - Rockland County Business Association President
- "The bridge and corridor process stalled last year due to one critical impediment – the lack of 17 billion dollars of funding. Last fall, federal seed money was identified, and bridge construction can now fast track, with the stipulation that the construction cost will not exceed $5 to $6 billion; and mass transit would be implemented at a later date. It is ironic that many who initially opposed mass transit are now threatening to thwart the construction process unless a rail element will operate immediately upon ribbon cutting of the new span. In response, the public has now received further assurances from Governor Andrew Cuomo: from the outset, the proposed bridge will be structurally engineered to accommodate future rail transit, which can then more easily be implemented once all environmental and funding issues along the 30-mile corridor will have been resolved.”
— Jan Degenshein - Chair, Rockland County Business Association, architect and planner
- "We are pleased that the primary focus of this project will address the immediate need for a new bridge to carry passenger and commercial vehicles across the Hudson River. This is a main thoroughfare for the trucking industry, providing a vital economic link between New England, New York City and Long Island and the rest of the northeast. We applaud the State of New York for their decision to proceed with the critical bridge replacement, while still preserving the ability to address the needs of other modes of transportation in the future."
— Kendra Adams - Motor Truck Association
