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Plans For New Tappan Zee Bridge Unveiled; Many Say Mass Transit Component Needed

TARRYTOWN, NY (CBSNewYork) -- State transportation officials got an earful Tuesday night that the new Tappan Zee Bridge needs a mass transit component.

LISTEN: WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reports

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The first of two public comment periods was held in Tarrytown where officials unveiled the plans for the new Tappan Zee.

The current design calls for twin, four lane spans, one heading to Rockland and the other heading to Westchester.

But many say the plans need to include some form of a mass transit component.

"There's no rail service, there's no rapid bus service as a component of the new bridge and I think that's very, very short-sided," said Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner.

Kate Slevin with the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, agrees.

"All the studies over the past decade or so have indicated that public transportation should be added to the bridge," she said.

Though adding mass transit would increase the cost of the project, Slevin says it would be worth the investment.

"By not building that public transportation competent now, we're really hindering the growth of Westchester and Rockland counties," she said.

Transportation experts said the new bridge will be built to last 100 years. The Obama administration fast tracked the project two weeks ago.

State officials say it could be under construction by October 2012 and open by 2017.  The cost of the project is about $5.2 billion.

The next is scheduled public meeting is Thursday night in Nyack.

Do you think mass transit should be included in the bridge's plans? Sound off below in our comments section...

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