Bruce M. Levine

Special to the USA TODAY NETWORK

At the Thruway tolls hearing in Rockland this summer, many denounced the lack of a rail connection between Rockland and White Plains or of a connection with Metro-North stations on the Hudson. The Journal News and lohud earlier this year published an op-ed titled “Why Cuomo Bridge rail 'will free Rockland'” by Ari Maas. Mr. Maas also bemoaned the decision made during the study process for the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement to implement a bus rapid transit system instead of a rail bridge.

First, Mr. Maas is correct that a rail alternative was included in the original study for the New New York Bridge, as the replacement was then called. Metro-North MTA was a formal partner in the process from beginning to end along with the New York DOT and the NYS Thruway Authority. The public was also involved thanks to Harriet Cornell, who was then chair of a County Legislature Transportation Committee. The three sponsoring agencies created over 25 Stakeholder Advisory working groups to give interested members of the public and local experts and officials an opportunity to be included in the early review and study of the various issues involved. I served on at least two such panels and attended meetings of others.

There were many concerns from the start. For example, I thought the study geography should have gone to Newburgh because of the presence of Stewart Airport there and the full length of 287 in Westchester. To me, this was especially important because I favored the idea of expanding commuter rail connections to the Metro-North station in Suffern, to Westchester train stations, and to Stewart Airport. My view did not prevail and the study remained of the corridor from Suffern to White Plains.

There were rail alternatives proposed (one included a rail tunnel under the Hudson). I proposed light rail. To me, this meant the kind of rail we see in airports. Others wanted full-scale heavy commuter trains just like the others on Metro-North on both sides of the river. Mass transit advocates were divided because they believed that bus rapid transit would offer greater flexibility in terms of the number of potential stops that could be offered in Rockland and especially in Westchester.

Two considerations led the decisionmakers to support bus rapid transit. One was very vocal local opposition near the proposed locations for commuter rail stations near Airmont Road where traffic was already an issue. The second was the high cost of the project that related directly to the topography of Rockland and Westchester counties. In Westchester County, there was very little room for a rail corridor to White Plains, at least at certain spots. Also in Westchester, there was an issue of the very significant height difference between the level of the bridge and the level of Metro-North stations in Hartsdale, Dobbs Ferry or Ardsley. In Rockland, we had the very high elevation difference from the Palisades Center exit and entrances to past the Palisades Interstate Parkway exits and entrances. There was talk of tunneling under the massive hill on the Thruway to get the trains through in Rockland and a tunnel that would swoop past Tarrytown and make a long circle to Hastings. Also, west of Hudson, there would be the need to replace numerous crossings to accommodate the space the rail lines would take. Advocates like me reminded the others that America’s can-do spirit has achieved incredible engineering feats. Opponents said the cost and the construction time would be insurmountable in today’s world (especially given the limits of federal funding for these projects). The rapid bus transit option prevailed. More time is needed to see if this option can be successful.

Still, the planners of the New New York Bridge left hope for commuter rail in the future. It is my understanding that the Mario Cuomo Bridge is separated into two parts going east and west to accommodate future commuter rail mass transit or perhaps a light rail system that would cross over the Hudson.

The author, from Montebello, is the former chairman of the Rockland County Legislature.