Westchester’s first east-west bus rapid transit system

In September 2008, the New York State Department of Transportation announced that a Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT) will be constructed along the I-287 corridor in Rockland and Westchester counties as part of the project to replace the Tappan Zee Bridge (TZB). The new BRT system is expected to be operational the day that the new bridge opens and will be the first east-west rapid transit system in the county. Not only will the transit system help relieve congestion, it will provide linkages between the county’s three existing north-south rail systems.

The new rapid transit system will provide unique opportunities to Westchester County and the region. To make the most of these opportunities, Westchester County is actively working with the TZB project team to help ensure the success of the new mass transit system.

To encourage discussion and interest, the County Department of Planning has created several alternative BRT route alignments and station development concepts that can be viewed in Google Earth.  These pictures highlight the important role of local long-range land use planning in making transit work and creating quality communities. Recognizing that many decisions regarding the system must still be made, the county is recommending that the following characteristics be included in the final design of the new BRT system:

• The BRT system should be separated from general traffic as much as possible. Ideally, the new BRT system should operate in its own independent right-of-way.
• Stations should be accessible to pedestrians and should be strongly integrated with the surrounding land use – that is to say, they should not be in the middle of parking lots or in the middle of I-287.
• The new BRT system should be designed so as to complement existing bus and train transit services and, where possible, should exploit the opportunities for local feeder service.

The Westchester County Planning Board and County Department of Planning are also actively working with the eight municipalities along I-287 that will be affected by this project, offering services to make sure the outcome of the state’s planning process will support the vision of the towns, villages and cities along the corridor. Specifically, we are working with local communities to explore how the BRT system will support local land use strategies, such as Transit Oriented Development (TOD).

To learn more about the key planning issues associated with the Tappan Zee Bridge and I-287 corridor use the navigation on the right. The information will be updated frequently as it becomes available. You may also visit the official Web site of the Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 project.

Contact Information

Community input is important to the success of the BRT system in Westchester County. If you have questions or comments, e-mail the Tappan Zee/I-287 Project Team at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

If you have questions for Westchester County Department of Planning, contact Ed Buroughs at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .