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  • Comments - March 31

As part of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), a third level of screening has been initiated. (Screening levels 1 and 2 occurred during the Alternatives Analysis phase and resulted in the identification of six alternatives.) Level 3 Screening will be used to make decisions on the following:

• Rehabilitation or replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge
• Transit Mode, and
• Finalization of the assessment methodologies to be used in the DEIS

The outcome of these decisions will determine the alternative configurations and methodologies for assessment in the DEIS. More information about alternatives and methodologies is found in the February 2008 Scoping Update packet.

Rehabilitation vs. Replacement

To determine whether the Tappan Zee Bridge is to be rehabilitated or replaced, a series of potential options will be developed and evaluated using the relevant engineering, environmental, transportation, and cost criteria as were developed for the Level 1 and 2 Screenings.

• Options for a rehabilitated bridge – as shown in Appendix C of the Scoping Update packet – will include allowance for transit modes on a bridge that is either rehabilitated and widened, or rehabilitated and supplemented by a parallel bridge.
• Options for a replacement bridge – also shown in Appendix C – will also encompass the range of transit modes as well as consideration of a single or dual level structure.

Transit Mode

A Transit Mode Selection Implementation Plan has been developed and is shown in Appendix D of the Scoping Update packet. This screening process will compare Commuter Rail Transit, Light Rail Transit and Bus Rapid Transit and will determine the mode(s) that best meet the goals and objectives of the Project. It will also help determine if there are significant differentiators and any major issues associated with a mode. Finally, it will determine which modes meet the goals and objectives of the study and should be advanced.

Assessment Methodologies

The Level 3 Screening will also finalize methodologies to evaluate the alternatives in the DEIS. Methodologies will be established to evaluate impacts in these areas:

• Transportation
• Natural environment
• Socioeconomics
• Land use
• Construction impacts
• Indirect (secondary)
• Cumulative

More details on assessment methodologies are found in Section 6.0 of the Scoping Update packet.