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Senate OKs Bill To Name New TZ Bridge After Gov. Cuomo's Father, Mario

The New York State Senate has approved a bill that would name the new Tappan Zee Bridge after Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s late father, Mario.

Former Gov. Mario Cuomo

Former Gov. Mario Cuomo

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Photo Credit: File photo
The new Tappan Zee Bridge after Mario Cuomo

The new Tappan Zee Bridge after Mario Cuomo

Photo Credit: File

Poll
Do you think the new Tappan Zee Bridge should be named in honor of the late NY Gov. Mario Cuomo?
Final Results Voting Closed

Do you think the new Tappan Zee Bridge should be named in honor of the late NY Gov. Mario Cuomo?

  • Absolutely
    6%
  • Absolutely not
    70%
  • Not sure
    2%
  • The new bridge shouldn't be named after any person
    21%

According to multiple reports, the bill was introduced at the end of a long legislative session by a Suffolk County Senator that would rename the currently under construction bridge the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.

The current bridge is named for former Gov. Malcolm Wilson Tappan Zee. The bill has not yet been passed, but it could be brought back to Albany at a later date. The Assembly adjourned late on Wednesday night without voting on the measure after Cuomo reportedly waived the mandatory three-day waiting period.

The new Tappan Zee Bridge project is one of the largest in the nation and the biggest in the history of the New York State Thruway Authority. It has been ongoing since 2013, with a scheduled grand opening scheduled for next year at a cost of nearly $4 billion.

In a statement, the organization Reclaim New York lambasted the naming proposal, calling it "absurd." 

“The Governor and Albany lawmakers spent the scheduled legislative session’s late hours on a push to name the new Tappan Zee bridge, even though they still have not identified how to pay for it. It’s absurd to name the bridge before commuters and taxpayers even know how much this massive project will cost them in tolls, taxes, or debt. In true Albany style, they debated naming a bridge before tackling ethics reform, mandate relief, local tax extenders, or finding a way to keep more money in New Yorkers’ pockets.

"Since citizens are paying for the bridge, they should get to decide what it's called." 

The twin-span crossing will replace the six-decade-old Tappan Zee Bridge, which is used by an average of 140,000 vehicles every day. The 3.1-mile bridge will include eight general traffic lanes, four breakdown and emergency lanes, space for future bus rapid transit and commuter rail, a bicycle and walking path with six unique viewing areas, cashless tolling, and energy efficient LED lighting.

Officials stated that the state-of-the-art bridge will not require any major structural repairs for at least 100 years.

What do you think about the proposed name for the new Tappan Zee Bridge? Vote in our poll. 

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