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WPCNR IN TRANSIT. By John F. Bailey. August 3, 2007: A New York State Transportation spokesperson reported to WPCNR Thursday that the Department of Transportation had no plans to reinspect the Tappan Zee Bridge in the wake of the Minneapolis I-35 Bridge Collapse Wednesday.

The spokesman said work on the outer right two lanes of the Tappan Zee Bridge in both directions would begin at the end of August and would include replacement of steel members that the new deck would rest on. He added that as more information on what caused the I-35 bridge to fail becomes known, all bridges in the state of similar construction and materials would be inspected for the defects as they are defined. Here is WPCNR’s interview with Ramesh Mehta, speaking for the Department of Transportation:

The Tappan Zee Bridge.

WPCNR conducted an interview with Ramesh Mehte spokesman for the New York Department of Transportation late Thursday afternoon. Here is how it went:

WPCNR: Your’e redecking it..you started that in the spring.

Mr. Mehte: Actually what we have been doing so far is the prefabrication of the material, the steel and the concrete. At the site we will be starting the work at the end of this month. The steel is fabricated and they attach the concrete deck to the steel.

WPCNR: So the redecking includes replacing some of the steel support (of the deck)?

Mr. Mehte: Some of the components of the steel will be replaced, yes.

WPCNR: When is it estimated the redecking will be complete?

Mr. Mehte: The end of next year (December, 2008)

WPCNR – How much life will this deck give the present bridge?

Mr. Mehte: The new decking wherever we are replacing it should give 40 to 50 years (life to the bridge).

WPCNR: How are the DOT engineers reacting to the Minneapolis Bridge Collapse – are they thinking of reinspecting the Tappan Zee Bridge again throgoughly just to make sure in a more intensive manner? What is their reaction to that?

Mr. Mehte: We still don’t know what was the mode of failure of that bridge in Minnesota. We do not know exactly how it happened…the type of members, the type of connections. Once we get that detail, if we have similar bridges in New York State or this region we will go and inspect them again. We are trying to find out more information what materials it was which actually prompted the failure of that bridge.

It was a steel arch bridge, I do not know exactly. The TZB is a completely riveted structure. I do not know if the Minnesota Bridge was a riveted structure or a vended structure. Vended structures can have their own sets of problems. So we are still trying to get the details. We are trying to say what was the reason that it failed then we will identify all the bridges in New York State. We’ll all be working together to see what type of additional inspection we should be doing so we do not compromise the structures.

WPCNR: The Tappan Zee Bridge Deck replacement, it is a partial replacement?

Mr. Mehte: Yes, it is only the right two lanes in each direction. Some of the bridge deck we have already replaced in the past.

WPCNR: Is it fair to say the Tappan Zee Bridge is going to remain there regardless of what replacement is deemed necessary?

Mr. Mehte:  Yes, but the decision of replacement, whether we have to retain this bridge, or we have to have a major rehab of the bridge, that will come at the end of 2008. In meantime, whatever is necessary to keep the bridge going. If we have to replace the bridge we will replace the bridge if that is the decision. In the meantime we have to continue to invest money in this bridge to make sure the bridge is to remain safe for the passage of the people.

WPCNR: At this point there’s no plan to immediately go over the Tappan Zee Bridge with a fine tooth comb, so to speak?

Mr. Mehte: Correct. That’s right.

WPCNR: When was the Tappan Zee Bridge last inspected?

Mr. Mehte:  It was  inspected last year from May to November 2006.

WPCNR: Was that when you decided to replace the deck (the upcoming rehab)?

Mr. Mehte: No,  we knew those items which require the rehab work. This project of $147 Million was let in December of 2005, and we awarded the contract to the contractor in August 1, 2006. We had already initiated that project. It takes some time to design the whole thing, the lead fitting, and awarding the contracts. Some of the deficiencies observed during the 2006 inspection we knew it and it was already covered in this contract. When we get some more details (on the Minnesota bridge) in the next few days, we will make plans to go and do the inspection.

WPCNR: The work being done now includes some steel members?

Mr. Mehta: Some steel members and the top deck which is the riding surface.

WPCNR: The underpinnings of the bridge, the uprights, no work is being done?

Mr. Mehta: Very little work. Only isolated members. Otherwise it is in good condition.

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WPCNR’S THE DAILY BAILEY.  News & Comment By John F. Bailey. August 2, 2007 UPDATED 2:31 PM EDT: The shocking, unexpected descent of the I-35 West Bridge (in Minneapolis, Minnesota) into the Mississippi River yesterday – which began life in 1967 – eight years after the Tappan Zee Bridge opened – should be a sobering wake-up fall to the Department of Transportation, the MTA and the New York State Thruway Authority and the Port of New York Authority bridgemasters, too — as well as county leaders in Rockland and Westchester County.

How Safe Is the Tappan Zee Bridge Now?

Donna Greene, Assistant Communications Director for Westchester County gave County Executive Andy Spano’s reaction to the Minneapolis collapse in a statement: “I have been assured by the Thruway Authority that the millions of dollars that have been spent on the bridge ensure the safety of it. However a long-term solution obviously is needed.” Greene assured WPCNR that “The county executive, of course, will stay on top of it through his many conversations with key state officials, his TZB Task Force and his work with  NYMTC (the NY Metropolitan Transportation Council). 

The makeshift repairs on the TZB have been going on for years. How long will the new TZB deck last? How long can it be expected to support traffic while a replacement is built?  What has to be done now to buttress the present structure? Does the structure need to be reinforced?  And does the present support structures need work? These are questions the DOT needs to answer in light of the Minneapolis bridge failure.  We the trusting public always assume the professionals know their bridges.

The DOT is currently replacing the deck over a two-year schedule that will replace 40% of the entire deck. This was what Minnesota workers were doing on the Minneapolis Bridge that collapsed yesterday, after declaring the steel support structure fatigued but having no cracks, according to news reports. So what happened? This will be very instructive.

According to the New York State Thruway news release this spring on the deck replacement, “The deck replacement project, expected to take place over a two-year phased schedule, will replace approximately 40% of the entire deck. This portion of the deck, including the west end of the bridge and the main truss, is in the most need of work and is therefore the most critical to replace. In previous years, the Authority replaced half the length of the center lane of the causeway and the entire east truss deck.”

Years ago a pal and I were heading across the George Washington Bridge on our way West. I remarked to Paul, noting the age of the George Washington Bridge (1931), how do they know this is safe? Paul said, “they inspect it.” We both laughed uneasily. But does the Minneapolis collapse say something about overall structure soundness the engineers did not know? Can it all go at once?

The Mianus River Bridge Collapse Revisited

A reporter who covered the Mianus river bridge collapse in   Greenwhich, Connecticut on the night of June 28, 1983, recalled that when that bridge collapsed it was a section of the bridge that fell due to a joints problem. She expressed interest that an entire structure collapsed in the Minneapolis case.

The Mianus River Bridge, Greenwich, Connecticut.

More sobering is that the engineering firm was not found to be at fault in that accident and the State of Connecticut eventually settled suits with the three persons killed in that collapse. According to United Press International dispatch of May 25, 1984, the state of Connecticut did not distribute Federal regulatory guidelines that could have made state inspectors “aware” of problems leading to the collapse.

The National Transportation Safety Board said that the manuals “remained in supervisors’ bookcases and were not available to maintenance inspectors,” in a preliminary report. UPI, in addition pointed out that the NTSB preliminary report “drawn from four days of testimony by engineers, officials and witnesses,” that  “the  (Connecticut) state officials were cited for not alerting inspectors to the inspection procedures for pin-and- hanger structures and for not maintaining an inspection schedule.”

Well, persons who use the Tappan Zee Bridge every day have to be asking themselves how good are the inspections of the TZB? We have had a lot of suggestions that it needs replacing. Why does it need replacing? And how worn out is it?

Should shore-up supports be constructed right away on the suspended portion of the TZB? This is no longer a question of what shall we do to replace the bridge? In light of the Minneapolis bridge failure, the analysis of the Tappan Zee structure has to address the question of how safe is it now? And why is it safe? And how can we be sure it’s safe?

Previously, the information on replacing the Tappan Zee Bridge was not one of safety. The Tappan Zee Bridge website says the bridge is inadequate for present traffic needs, reporting, “More than 135,000 vehicles cross the 3.1 mile Tappan Zee Bridge every day, with volumes as high as 170,000 vehicles daily. If nothing is done to relieve congestion in the I-287 corridor between Suffern and Port Chester, by 2030 traffic crossing the bridge will increase to 200,000 cars per day. Travel times are expected to grow significantly.”

The Tappan Zee Bridge website (www.tzbsite.com) acknowledges the old TZB has problems, to wit: “The Bridge does not meet current seismic criteria… Although the bridge is safe, due in large part to a rigorous program of maintenance and inspection, it is nearing the end of its service life.”

The website elaborates on the bridge “problems,” emphatically stating: “Yes, the Tappan Zee Bridge is safe. The New York State Thruway Authority operates a regular program of scheduled maintenance designed specifically to ensure the bridge is safe for travel. The bridge also receives a detailed inspection every two years by qualified engineers.”

The Westchester County Department of Communciations  in their statement above did not address whether the county was going to ask for an update of bridge conditions in light of the totally unexpected failure of Minnesota’s “safe” bridge – declared safe with a bit of “fatigue” last year, according to media reports.

More than ever the rebuilding of the bridge has to stop becoming a political issue and become a safety issue.

If it were up to me I’d say the present bridge has to be repaired extensively immediately from a support standpoint. Admittedly, this is not the same structure bridge that fell in Minneapolis. But how safe is it, anyway? And we are not talking about the lack of breakdown lanes, the movable media barrier or the lack of speed enforcement on the bridge. (That’s another column).

Can you imagine the disaster if this bridge collapsed? In loss of life immediately? And long term – the commuting nightmare as all traffic diverted to Newburgh Beacon Bridge, the Bear Mountain Bridge and the  George Washington Bridge?

As of this hour the New York State Thruway Office of Public Affairs has not responded to WPCNR questions about their Tappan Zee Bridge safety program effectiveness, whether they plan to take a more detailed look at the bridge, and how long the bridge will last after the deck repair.

I think the Thruway engineers have to be having sobering thoughts this morning.

I would.

And I’d be going over that bridge with a fine tooth comb.

Right now.

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WPCNR THE DUMP NEWS. From Senator Hillary Clinton’s Press Office. August 1, 2007: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today introduced a bill which would provide funding to speed up  EPA assessment and setting of standards  on TCE-contaminated sites in New York State and the nation. The Senator in a news conference today characterizes TCE (Trichloralethylene) as a dangerous pollutant, saying “numerous scientific studies make it clear that TCE has the potential to cause cancer, damage the nervous and immune systems, and cause developmental effects in children.”

The City of White Plains currently is in the final phases of determining with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, if it will be required to remediate the TCE-tainted soils that have made the dump a source of unpleasant odors in the summer months for thirty years. Both the city and the DEC have been aware of the contamation for three decades. However, the White Plains site is not on the roster of TCE-contaminated sites in New York.

Here is the official news release announcing the Senator’s program:

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) today announced that she has introduced the “TCE Reduction Act” to require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set tougher regulations to protect the public from exposure to the carcinogenic chemical Trichloroethylene (TCE).

Today’s announcement follows earlier efforts by Senator Clinton to urge the EPA to address the growing TCE contamination crisis in New York. http://clinton.senate.gov/documents/news/05_31_07_epa.html.  The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Dole (R-NC), Boxer (D-CA), Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Kerry (D-MA).  Representatives Solis and Hinchey plan to introduce companion legislation in the United States House of Representatives.

TCE is one of the most widespread industrial water contaminants in the nation, and is found at many sites across New York.  Of the 86 federal Superfund sites in New York alone, more than 30 have been found by the EPA to have TCE contamination.  Endicott, Franklin Square, Garden City, Hopewell Junction, Ithaca, Norwich and Victor are a few of the communities throughout New York that are known to be contaminated with TCE.  Senator Clinton’s bill follows lengthy delays by EPA in setting a new standard in the face of growing scientific evidence and contamination that is more widespread.

“It is unacceptable that the EPA has failed to protect the public from TCE in the face of stronger scientific evidence that it causes cancer, and growing exposure problems in New York and across the country.  Numerous scientific studies make it clear that TCE has the potential to cause cancer, damage the nervous and immune systems, and cause developmental effects in children. Unfortunately, the EPA has ignored the science rather than taking action.  As a result of EPA delays, communities across New York continue to be exposed to potentially toxic levels of TCE,” Senator Clinton said. “The ‘TCE Reduction Act’ will force the EPA to protect children and other vulnerable populations from TCE in the water they drink and the air they breathe.” Senator Clinton said.

“The government has failed the people of New York who face the threat of TCE contamination,” Congressman Hinchey said. “This bill will help complement the legislation we recently passed in the House that directs additional funds to the EPA for the agency to expedite work on developing a revised and final TCE risk assessment as was recommended by the National Research Council. This will be one more weapon in our arsenal to get the federal government to focus its attention and make progress on preventing human health threats posed by the pervasive TCE contamination in parts of New York and throughout the nation.  I look forward to working with Vice Chairwoman Solis to draft the House version of Senator Clinton’s bill.”

A draft EPA Risk Assessment in 2001 found TCE to be as much as 40 times more carcinogenic than previously thought, but rather than using EPA science to set a more protective standard for TCE in drinking water, the Bush administration called for more study.  The National Research Council (NRC) was directed to conduct an in depth study the health studies involving TCE.  Far from repudiating EPA’s 2001 findings, the final NRC report, issued in 2006, found that “the evidence on carcinogenic risk and other health hazards from exposure to trichloroethylene has strengthened since 2001.” The report went on to say, “The committee recommends that federal agencies finalize their risk assessment with currently available data so that risk management decisions can be made expeditiously.”

Senator Clinton has previously pressed the EPA to set a standard based on the latest science, but the EPA has failed to act or set a timeline.  According to the EPA’s website, EPA does not plan to release a revised standard until the end of 2010.

The “TCE Reduction Act” would force EPA’s hand, requiring EPA to:

• Issue a revised health advisory for TCE within 6 months of enactment.

• Issue revised draft health standards for TCE in drinking water within 12 months of enactment, and final drinking water standards within 18 months.

• Issue a health advisory standard for TCE vapor intrusion within 12 months of enactment.

• Establish an Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) reference concentration (RfC) of TCE vapor within 18 months of enactment.

• Ensure that all standards set under the bill fully protect susceptible populations (including pregnant women, infants, and children) from the adverse health affects of TCE.

To download a list of many of the confirmed TCE sites in New York, go to – http://clinton.senate.gov/documents/news/NPL.pdf

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2007. By John F. Bailey. July 31, 2007: Candyce Corcoran was informed this morning by a Westchester County Board of Elections official that virtually all of her 67 pages of signatures she had gathered to earn a place on the September 18 Democratic Primary, were in danger of being declared invalid, that they were all challenged.

Corcoran is challenging nominated incumbents Councilpersons Benjamin Boykin and Dennis Power and third nominee, Milagros Lequona in the Primary.

An incredulous Corcoran, explained to WPCNR, the area under the line, “Witness Identification Information” was not filled in with the location “White Plains,” and this was the reason she was told her petitions were invalid. Corcoran said she had asked the Board of Elections specifically about this area of the petition and had been told it was not her responsibility to complete that area, that it was “for the notary.”

Corcoran, should her petitions be denied, still will be on the ballot in November as the Conservative Candidate for Common Council.

Ms. Corcoran released this statement,

“The Democrats of White Plains and the people of White Plains deserve to have a choice and not have me thrown out on a technicality. My family has lived here for five generations. They know I am from White Plains.I worked extremely hard. I got all those signatures myself. I was alway there. I met every single one of those people. I can’t let those people down who believed enough in me to sign my petitions.

If this is how the Democratic Party wants to play the game. This shows how unscrupulous they really are. It is about time the people of White Plains to speak up and tell who they would like as their representative, and not the choice of the few district leaders. I got two certified objections from Liz Schollenberger and Tim James, (Leaders of the White Plains Democratic City Committee) the specifications of objection: “city missing. total number valid zero.”

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The proposal also ups the buyout option substantially. Developers have in the past been allowed to pay a fee  to the Affordable Housing Assistance Fund in lieu of setting aside affordable units. Now those fees would be sharply increased virtually doubling the present buyout option as follows:

A studio, $75,000 per unit. (now $30,000)

A One Bedroom, $150,000 per unit (presently $67,000)

A Two Bedroom, $200,000 per unit (now $115,000)

A Three Bedroom, $240,000 per unit ($155,000 currently)

The legislation, in addition increases the period that the affordable units provided by a developer would remain affordable, from 20 years to 30 years, and the term of renewal option from 20 years to 30 years.

The Mayor, Benerofe reported Friday evening on White Plains Week, pointed out there are no new proposals before the city that propose multi-family housing. However, WPCNR notes that the Lexington Avenue corridor, next in line for the city’s “Revitalization Touch,” long targeted as an area for possible  gentrification might just be covered by this legislation.

Should a developer propose a 300 unit project, fee in lieu of fees could conceivably approach $5,000,000 or greater under the increased fees per unit. For example at 10%, 30 units of 7 studios, 8 one bedrooms, 8 two bedrooms and 7 –3 bedrooms would cost a developer, $5 Million in a fee buyout.