The Whittier Bridge project on I-95 in Massachusetts will replace an existing bridge over the Merrimack River with a new, multi-modal bridge that will add traffic lanes as well as making provision for bicycles and pedestrians. The lead agency, resource agency and project sponsor will facilitate better coordination to accelerate permit review and approval within six months, including a schedule for document reviews and establishing a process for dispute elevation and resolution.
The Tappan Zee Bridge project will replace a deficient bridge that is a critical link in the regional transportation network. Construction of the ambitious project will not begin for several years but improved coordination amongst multiple federal agencies will reduce the time needed to proceed from a draft environmental impact statement to a record of decision, potentially reducing the project timeline by multiple years. New York governor Andrew Cuomo had earlier this week urged for the scheme to be picked.
The initiative to expedited the 14 schemes is designed to help create jobs.
