WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY By the WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. December 10 UPDATED DECEMBER 10 11:10 P.M. :

When White Plains Week Commentators commentate, "Power," such as it is, listens!

On Friday evening, White Plains Week, the city news roundup show internetcast worldwide from downtown, your town, White Plains around the world, commentated that Westchester County finished repaving, and reguttering North Street a main north-south gateway to White Plains, before Thanksgiving.

NORTH STREET FRIDAY MORNING AT BRYANT AVENUE. LOOK FOLKS, NO LANES...AND IT HAS HAD NO LANES  FOR 3 WEEKS

Commentators John Bailey, Peter Katz and Jim Benorofe noted dryly that after three weeks since repaving had been comoleted,  Westchester County had not painted traffic lane markings creating a dangerous situation for motorists unfamiliar with traffic patterns on North Street.

Friday evening the county laned the road in one night.

WPCNR is happy to report that with scant hours of the WPW telecast Friday evening, Westchester County crews relined North Street from I-287 to the Hutchinson River Parkway (in one night). Thanks, Westchester County for watching and taking care of business (finally). Cross walks still have to be painted, but at least cars no where their lanes are.

BUT WAIT! THEY ONLY DID HALF THE ROAD!

WPCNR READER WRITER WRITES Sunday AT 5 P.M.:

I am pleased to know that SOME line painting was completed.  But not so from Ridgeway to the Hutch. 5pm 12/10/11
I just drove up North Street from the Hutch to Ridgeway..  No lines are painted.  Everyday I commute by car  along N. Street and Ridgeway .  The Left turn onto Ridgeway is causing confusion and short stops by motorists.

Thank you, Mr. Astorino!

BUT COULD WE FINISH THE JOB??? PLEASE!

North Street Southbound Saturday morning, coming up to former St. Agnes Hospital.Love that Turn Lane!

North Streeet Northbound just past Bryant Avenue Saturday morning. How about dem Lanes! The Lanes are Open!

WPCNR THE PARKING NEWS. December 6, 2011:

The Common Council Monday night created the first parking relief  for long-suffering White Plains residents in years at the mercy of White Plains crack team of vigilant White Plains Parking Enforcement Officers.

They voted to create the Residential Off-Peak Parking Permit that enables residents of the city to park in city municipal garages free from 6 PM to 12 midnight Monday through Friday; on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 A.M. to 12 Midnight. The fee for the permit is $75 per vechicle and may be used in all city garages, except the City Center garage.

The Off-Peak Permit holders may only park in spaces marked "Permit-Only," except in the Library Garage

The garages free with the permit evenings are Chester-Maple, Hamilton-Main, Lexington-Grove East and West, Longview-Cromwell, Trans Center  and the White Plains Library Garage.

Mayor Thomas Roach issued this statement: "This new permit is designed to give our residents more affordable parking options within their own city, By significantly reducing the price of parking, we are encouraging residents to patronize the businesses, restaurants and theaters in our downtown. We believe this will have a positive impact on our local economy as well."

Proof  oF residence, proof of vechicle registration is required to purchase a ROPPP (RESIDENTIAL OFF PEAK PARKING PERMIT).

They are available at city parking offices at Chester-Maple Garage; Hamilton-Main Garage, Lexington-Grove-West and East Garages,

Where's Mass Transit? Scopers Ask.

WPCNR BRIDGE NEWS. By John F. Bailey. October 26, 2011 UPDATED WITH EXHIBIT CHARTS 10 P.M. E.D.T.:  

The Department of Transporation unveiled its new Tappan Zee Bridge Reconstruction option at the Tarrytown Doubletree Hotel Tuesday afternoon in a scoping presentation that kicked off an accelerated environmental review of the Tappan Zee Bridge Replacement Project. 

The agency and chain of command responsible for funding, engineering and building the bridges has not been determined at this time.

The environmental review that began yesterday is scheduled to be completed in December 2012, with work beginning in 2013 and the project completed by 2018.

Choice of Two Designs, Cable Suspension Above, or  Arch Bridge below:

The new "bridge" is really two bridges, higher off the Hudson River and straighter than the present 1959-built Tappan Zee Bridge. The proposed spannings  allow more speed because they are level and add permanent lanes to the East West corridors, raising the total of lanes to 4 in each direction. The design met with widespread complaints in the scoping session because it has no mass transit component according to observers in the audience who spoke with WPCNR.

The New Bridge Profile (In yellow will be higher than the existing Tappan Zee Bridge, allowing for straighter, more level crossing rather than the alleged slowing of traffic on grade experienced now with the present bridge (profile and grade is colored in blue

Officials making explanations of the exhibit of the design in the reception area toured by WPCNR as well as officials making the official scoping presentation went to great lengths to assure the public that the dual bridge would be engineered to add mass transit of rapid bus transit or rail transit sometime in the future to be determined. A second scoping session is scheduled to be held in the Palisades Mall from 4 to 9 P.M. Thursday afternoon, when officials will again make the presentation they made Tuesday evening.

Mass Transit Could be Added in the future to this structure in the cantilevered space underneath the roadways or in the space between the bridges -- bus or rail according to engineers.

The Chart immediately below shows how the Project engineers would add mass transit (rail, bus,or both in the future)

Who's the Czar?

Browsing the bridge exhibits, WPCNR  asked William Reynolds, Communications Director of the Department of Transportation what agency is ultimately going to  be responsible to build and have ultimate control of the project: funding, engineering, choosing contractors, building the bridge.

“That (decision) is well down the road” according to William Reynolds, Communications Director, of the Department of Transportation the Federal Highway Administration  that stepped in last week to “fast track” the project environmental review to speed replacement of the bridge, or the New York Department of Transporation that has spent 10 years tinkering with the design of a replacement. Reynolds said the present stage beginning yesterday is the environmental review and designation of responsibility for the project has not been determined at this time. He said he would get back to WPCNR with more details on when and how the assignment of responsibility for building the bridges will be made.

Here is what WPCNR learned in discussing the design with DOT personnel at the reception area displaying key charts showing the new bridges (Press read-on instruction):

WPCNR BUMPER TO BUMPER. From Federal Highway Administration. October 13, 2011:

The surprise takeover of the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement project by the Federal Highway Administration Tuesday continues to unfold.

Stakeholders were notified by e-mails Wednesday evening that the Federal Highway Administration would unveil designs for its new vehicular traffic only 8-lane replacement bridge at two Public Scoping Briefings.

One briefing will be held October 25, a Tuesday, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Tarrytown, 455 South Broadway from 4 P.M. to 9 P.M.

Briefing two is scheduled October 27,. Thursday, at the Palisades Center Adler Room, in the Palisades Mall, 10000 Palisades Center in West Nyack, also from 4 to 9 P.M.

WPCNR BUMPER TO BUMPER. April 14, 2011 UPDATE FROM THE POLICE 10:40 P.M. E.D.T.:

 Three cars were involved in a collision on North Broadway at the intersection of Park Avenue this afternoon which closed the southbound lanes of Broadway for the better part of the rush hour. One vehicle rolled over, according to a WPCNR correspondent, and emergency workers had to cut the injured person out of the vechile. Our correspondent reports two persons were hospitalized. WPCNR awaits details.

Shortly after 10:30 P.M., White Plains Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong issued this statement on the accident to WPCNR:

This evening at 5:59 PM a call came over of a three vehicle accident with a woman pinned in a rollover. Police and Fire responded with seconds and found the collision had occurred in front of 52 North Broadway across from Good Counsel. 

Three vehicles were involved, with three drivers. One vehicle a SUV operated by a 57 year old female was rolled over on its side and the female was pinned in the vehicle. The fire department stabilized her, balanced the vehicle, and had to cut the windshield to get her out.

They did a terrific job having her out in minutes and she was brought to WP Hospital complaining about arm pain. A second female driver, 17 years of age was also taken to the hospital for observation. Both injuries at this time are reported to be not serious. The male driver of auto #3 did not request medical attention.

This accident is being investigated by our Traffic Division. 

The Accident Scene 6:45 P.M.

One of the vehicles involved-- believed to be the vehicle that rolled over.

Vehicle being towed.

WPCNR UP IN THE AIR. By John F. Bailey. September 29, 2010 UPDATED SEPTEMBER 30,2010:

The Southwest Airlines announcement that it will acquire AirTran (Westchester County Airport’s flight leader), may enable Westchesterites to fly coast-to-coast and border-to-border on one airline direct from Westchester County. The merger is subject to anti-trust review by the Justice Department, and is predicted to take two years for closing, according to remarks made at a news conference in Dallas Monday. You may review the transcript of that news conference at http://www.swamedia.com/releases/79bac32b-8aee-321d-3612-5d004ca09314

AIRTRAN 717 TAXING TO THE TERMINaL DOME AT WESTCHESTER COUNTY AIRPORT IN AUGUST. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES WILL MERGE WITH WESTCHESTER'S NUMBER ONE FLIGHT LEADER OPENING UP PERHAPS ATTRACTIVE DESTINATIONS TO THE WESTCHESTER TRAVELER.

The merger may also put further strain on the overcrowded Westchester Terminal and chronically packed parking facility at the county airport depending on how Southwest changes the destination mix of their flights.

Spokesperson for Westchester County Donna Greene told WPCNR  the terminal will not become more crowded than it is, because the number of person who can be in the terminal at any one time is regulated.  She is checking on the details of the policy for WPCNR. Ms. Greene said the overcrowding of the parking facility is caused by extended stays of persons who park at that facility and stay for a week or more.

Greene said that the number of flights from the airport remains set, but the airlines that own the “flight slots” can vary the destinations of their flights with clearance from the airport. WPCNR expects Southwest Airlines when they merge operations with AirTran and take over that airline’s slots will possibly change the mix of flights to far flung destinations across the country, perhaps non-stop. WPCNR has a call in to Southwest to see what their plans might be.

RUNWAY 34 APPROACH AT COUNTY AIRPORT. 

RUNWAY 16 APPROACH AT COUNTY AIRPORT.

Greene told WPCNR  the airport cannot add a third runway to accommodate possibly larger aircraft. Currently the airport runway 34/16 can accommodate 737s.

She also said the airport could not at this time expand to a second terminal.  She also ruled out the county putting a hotel at the airport or expanding the airport facilities.

Greene was getting answers from the airport on the specifics of the terminal occupancy policies, frequency of flight intervals and the number of flights AirTran now runs out of the county airport.

AirTran currently flies to Atlanta, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and Fort Myers from Westchester County, but flies 700 daily flights to 52 destinations from its hub in Atlanta, where it is the second largest carrier.

WPCNR PHOTOGRAPH OF THE NIGHT. September 13, 2010:

During the September 7 Council meeting last week, the council passed a set of resolutions amending traffic ordinances which have eliminated valet parking in the city. As of Monday evening, the valet parking that was a fixture at City Center in front of Zanaro's and Legal Seafood after 5 P.M.,  in place since 2003, is no longer in operation.

So long Valets!

For seven years the valet operation in front of Legal Seafoods and the former Zanaro's through a private firm parked cars dropped in front of the two restaurants for a fee of $5 per car, with attendants parking cars for patrons in vehicles who queued up often 5 to 6 cars deep (which were then parked on either side of Church Street cutting back the lanes on Church Street from 2 to 1),between Main Street and Martine Avenue causing traffic congestion. Now, according to City Hall, there are no more valet parking operations in the city.

WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. August 23, 2010 UPDATED 9:05 P.M.E.D.T.: 

Today's Photographs are the first-ever looks at the Department of  Transportation massive reconfiguation of the Exit 7 Westbound I-287 entrances to I-287 and the Central Westchester Parkway. Monday afternoon rush hour showed traffic flowing smoothly at the three lanes into one merge at 5 P.M.

Westbound traffic on I-287  wishing to access Route 22 to North White Plains and the Taconic Parkway  should take the new Exit 7 (just after exit 8 coming from Connecticut.

WPCNR THE PARKING NEWS. By John F. Bailey. August 21, 2010:

White Plains residents can no longer count on "automatic" permission from police to park overnight on White Plains Streets between 2 and 6 A.M, simply by calling in the car's license number to the police.

The White Plains Department of Public Safety is no longer guaranteeing that residents who call the Police Department requesting  permission to take advantage of the long-standing practice requesting permission for overnight guests or whatever reason to park a car on the street overnight will have their requests granted, Police Chief James Bradley confirmed in a written statement to WPCNR Saturday morning.

The Chief in a statement, said the new policy  is due to “overwhelming” requests for a waiver of the No Parking between 2 and 6 A.M. experienced by the police lately.

WPCNR COMMUTER COURIER. From Westchester County Department of Transportation. June 24, 2010:

Service on two Bee-Line shuttle routes will be eliminated and reduced on nine other routes, including the Westchester-Manhattan express bus, on Monday (June 28) when the county’s Department of Transportation implements its summer service changes.  
           

 Shuttle Loop E that serves the Manhattanville Road area in Purchase and Loop T that operates along White Plains Road in Tarrytown will be discontinued.  The Department of Transportation estimates that these schedule changes will save approximately $1.7 million in operating costs this year and over $3 million in 2011. 
            Other changes include:

·       The Westchester-Manhattan express bus will run only peak hour service; all service on weekends and weekday midday and evening hours will be discontinued.  

·       Route 7 trips during off-peak midday hours will be reduced.

·       Route 14 buses will terminate in downtown White Plains instead of Bloomingdale Road.

·       Routes 18 and 31 trips serving the Peekskill railroad station will be reduced.

·       Route 42 weekday evening and Saturday trips will start and end at White Plains Road and East 241st Street in the Bronx instead of East 233rd Street.

·       Some Shuttle Loop B, D and F trips will be discontinued.

·       Route 6 trips on Sundays between White Plains and Valhalla will be discontinued.

·       Routes 75 and 91 daily service to Playland will start on Tuesday, June 29.  However, Route 92 daily summer service between Playland and White Plains will not be offered this year.

New schedules and a brochure explaining the schedule changes are onboard all Bee-Line buses.  Information is also available by calling the Bee-Line hotline at 914-813-7777 or by logging on to www.westchestergov.com/beelinebus. 

WPCNR THE PARKING NEWS. By John F. Bailey. June 23, 2010:

The Lyon Place parking garage is closed indefinitely the the City of White Plains reported today when asked by the CitizeNetReporter why the Lyon Place Garage (corner of Waller and Lyon Place) was "closed for emergency repairs."

Antoinette Biordi, city Communications Director said the five story garage owned by the Esplanade senior care facility was closed due to emergency repairs on the top three floors that were begun last night (when torrential rains pelted the downtown). 

Overnight parkers who park on the first two floors of the garage which the city leases from Esplanade, Biordi said, should park at the Chester and Maple Garage where their city permits would be recognized. The city leases approximately 160 spaces from the garage.

Asked what the repairs were being conducted, Biordi referred WPCNR to Esplanade, the senior assisted living facility adjacent the open level 5 story garage (now closed).

Biordi said the city asked the Esplanade management if they could guarantee the safety of parkers on the first two floors that the two floors would be safe while construction was being conducted, but the Esplanade would not, "so we had no choice but to close the garage," Biordi said.

WPCNR MR. AND MRS. AND MS. WESTCHESTER-ROCKLAND-Connecticut  POLL. May 23, 2010: Recently one of the WHITE PLAINS WEEK anchors attended the lastest in planning sessions the Department of Transportation is holding on the Westchester transit corridor in connecteion with the new Tappan Zee Bridge project and establishment of a rapid transit BUS system which would feature frequent, lane dedicated bus service from Rockland County to Tarrytown Elmsford, Greenburgh, White Plains (stopping at the County Center), and then on to a stop on the Miracle Mile of corporation headquarters on Westchester Avenue, and on to Harrison and Port Chester.

What has not been discussed is, if the state puts this into place -- will the public consider using it?

Why don't you -- if you live in Rockland,  and Connecticut along the Cross Westchester Expressway (I-287) corridor where the new DOT BRT is supposed to run -- in a timely manner -- tell us if you'll leave your cars and get onto the bus?

The reason we ask is I have not seen any such polls other than assurances that BRT attracts riders. What do you think, Mr. and Mrs. Rockland-Westchester-Connecticut (near I-287)?

WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. March 14, 2010: The Mayor's Office has swung into action Sunday evaluating the city situation after the devastating weather event of Saturday and Sunday morning. The Mayor, Adam Bradley, and Council President Tom Roach were in city neighborhoods this morning.

Moments ago Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong told WPCNR that North Street is closed both directions from Ridgeway to the Hutchinson River Parkway. He reports most of Soundview Avenue is closed, and motorists will be forced to detour in the Old Mamaroneck Road and Albamarle Road area of Ridgeway. The Commissioner said about 6,000 to 8,000 are without power "in grids" at the 12 noon hour.

John Callahan, City Chief of Staff, announced the Mayor and his Commissioners will hold a news conference at 3 P.M. to discuss the state of the city.

Commissioner Chong said police would be out massively in the Monday morning rush hour to expedite the commute in the morning.

Con Edison storm center reports the number of customers without power at this time as holding at 69,326. Con Edison figures show 7,125 White Plains customers without power.

Don Clendenen of Con Edison on WCBS Radio said this storm is the worst storm in terms of power loss since Hurricane Gloria in 1985.

WPCNR IN TRANSIT. By John F. Bailey. March 11, 2010: The backbone of the new Rockland-Westchester County mass transit system of the future -- the Bus Rapid Transit line -- is envisioned by officials as traveling east-west on Hamilton Avenue in downtown White Plains, the Council of Neighborhood Associations learned Tuesday night. For many it was the first they had heard of the plan to go through White Plains.

The route the DOT feels is the most efficient at this time is to dedicate two lanes for Bus Rapid Transit, on Hamilton Avenue, one eastbound, the other westbound, with dedicated buslines coursing from 119 East onto Hamilton and down North Broadway eastbound to Westchester Avenue, and a dedicated bus line westbound coming up North Broadway Westbound off Westchester Avenue, connecting with Hamilton Avenue out to Route 119. It was the first time the Hamlton solution had been presented to the general public.

2 Plans to access Hamilton. Via Main Street, or a Tunnel