Research Catalog

Title

Politics across the Hudson : the Tappan Zee megaproject / Philip Mark Plotch.

Author

Plotch, Philip Mark, 1961-

Publication

New Brunswick, New Jersey : Rutgers University Press, [2015]

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

xx, 241 pages; 25 cm.

Summary

"A behind-the-scenes look at three decades of planning and politics for the new Tappan Zee Bridge reveals essential lessons for those interested in tackling complex public policy problems, yet it will also confirm your worst fears about governmental dysfunction. The New York metropolitan area abandoned viable options, squandered hundreds of millions of dollars, forfeited more than three billion dollars in federal funds, and missed out on important opportunities. For more than 30 years, New York officials were unable to develop a consensus on a realistic plan to improve transportation conditions in New York's northern suburbs. Planning improvements for a region with more than 22 million people is difficult enough, but several state officials made it even harder when they raised false expectations about government's ability to solve a problem. Three governors preferred to keep studying various alternatives rather than disappointing key constituencies. Faced with the public's unrealistic expectations, it seemed impossible to identify a solution that was both practical and popular. The governors had little to gain from lowering expectations; instead they were trapped by them. One troubling lesson from the I-287 / Tappan Zee Bridge planning process is that leaders who expedite projects often do so by making decisions behind closed doors with little community input. Although everyone supports government transparency and public participation, in reality too much public involvement gets in the way of finalizing plans and constructing megaprojects"--

Series Statement

Rivergate regionals

Uniform Title

Rivergate regionals.

Subjects

• Tappan Zee Bridge (N.Y.)
• TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING / Civil / Bridges
• Local transit > Political aspects > New York (State) > New York Metropolitan Area
• Transportation > Political aspects > New York (State) > New York Metropolitan Area
• SOCIAL SCIENCE / Regional Studies
• POLITICAL SCIENCE / Public Policy / Regional Planning
• Transportation and state > New York (State) > New York Metropolitan Area

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references and index.

Call Number

IRM (Tappan Zee) 15-5953

ISBN

• 9780813572499 (hardcover)
• 0813572495 (hardcover)
• 9780813572512 (canceled/invalid)
• 9780813572529 (canceled/invalid)

LCCN

2014035983

OCLC

893709686

Author

Plotch, Philip Mark, 1961- author.

Title

Politics across the Hudson : the Tappan Zee megaproject / Philip Mark Plotch.

Publisher

New Brunswick, New Jersey : Rutgers University Press, [2015]

Type of Content

text

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Series

Rivergate regionals

Rivergate regionals.

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Research Call Number

IRM (Tappan Zee) 15-5953