Editorial: Bike and Pedestrian Proposal for Verrazano-Narrows Bridge an Expensive Joke

The State Island Advance editorial board voices its displeasure with the escalating cost of a plan to build a bicycle and pedestrian path across the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. At issue is a recent cost estimate in the ballpark of $300 to $400 million.

The editorial takes a few swipes at the bicycle lobby, who "think the MTA should spare no expense to build a bike path across the Narrows." But the editorial claims that compared to put bikepaths on streets throughout the boroughs, putting a bike and pedestrian path on the bridge is a much taller order:

"One of the ideas under consideration is the construction of bike and pedestrian lanes on either side of the deck on the lower level. A second proposal offers the same configuration on the upper level. And then there's a proposal to build a separate bridge that would run parallel to the Verrazano. The second span would be equipped with a vertical lift in its center to allow ships to pass."

The editorial board makes it clear that they consider any such plans to be a joke, albeit an expensive one. The new price tag of $300 to $400 million has climbed from its original estimate of $75 million, to be sure. Instead of spending the money on the new path, the editorial proposes that the community deserves better transit options first, and should join the editorial board in voicing its displeasure with the project.