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Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 Environmental Review
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Overview

The Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 Corridor Project is being conducted in accordance with all applicable federal and state requirements, including the

The study process includes:

Alternatives Analysis (AA): The Alternatives Analysis, completed in January 2006, identified more than 150 suggestions on how to improve conditions in the Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 Corridor. After further investigation, those 150 suggestions were combined into 16 different scenarios that were analyzed for their environmental impact, constructability, cost and ability to improve mobility in the I-287 Corridor. The six alternatives that remained at the end of that screening process are detailed in the Alternatives Analysis report.

Scoping: The scoping process began on December 23, 2002 with the publication of the Notice of Intent (NOI). Scoping meetings were held and the information that was gathered was utilized to develop potential alternatives and identify potential impacts. While the project activities advanced, SAFETEA-LU was signed into law on August 10, 2005, refining the environmental review process under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and increasing the opportunities for public involvement. In response, a revised NOI was issued in February 2008, commencing the Scoping Update process. This process provided additional opportunity for public to comment on the topics of Purpose and Need, Range of Alternatives, and the Coordination Plan as required by SAFETEA-LU using the Scoping Update Packet. Three Scoping Update Meetings were held in Westchester, Rockland and Orange Counties in February 2008. Recommendations concerning bridge replacement and transit modes were made at the end of 2008 in conjunction with public information meetings and a comment period. The Scoping Process was concluded in May 2009 with the official publication of the Scoping Summary Report, which identified potential alternatives to be evaluated in the EIS and provided responses to public comments.

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS):The Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 Corridor Project is being conducted as a two-tiered process. An initial EIS which evaluates plans for improving the I-287 corridor (including the Tappan Zee Bridge) and assess transit options for the corridor, and identifies a transit mode for the corridor, its general route and its termini. A second EIS will focus on the details of integrating that transit mode into the communities it will serve, including route specifics and transit station locations and designs. A final decision on the first EIS document will initiate work on the second.

As part of our scoping update process conducted in 2008 comments received from the public were addressed and included in the Scoping Summary Report. Also, analysis has been made to determine which transit mode would best serve this corridor. Results of this analysis have identified a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and a Commuter Rail Transit (CRT) as the preferred transit modes and have been described in the Transit Mode Selection Report. Alternatives with these selected transit modes are subject to  rigorous and comprehensive analysis as part of the DEIS.

 The Project Team will continue meeting with the public throughout this process and your feedback is always encouraged and welcomed.

Look Ahead

  • Open House - to present final alternatives to be evaluated in the DEIS
  • Publish Transit Alignment Options Report
  • Publish the Bridge Options Development Report
  • Analyze alternatives in the DEIS
  • Continue engaging with the public through a variety of
    meetings and events

Each step in the EIS process includes efforts and activities to gain public input. Learn how to: