Philip Plotch received an American Planning Association award for his book, Politics Across the Hudson: The Tappan Zee Megaproject, published by Rutgers University Press. In 2018, the State of New York completed construction of one of the world’s longest, widest, and most expensive bridges—the new Mario M. Cuomo Bridge (a.k.a. Tappan Zee Bridge). In Politics Across the Hudson, Dr. Plotch offers a behind-the-scenes look at three decades of contentious planning centered around this bridge, revealing valuable lessons for those trying to tackle complex public policies. Drawing on his extensive experience planning megaprojects, Dr. Plotch tells a compelling story of high-stakes battles between powerful players in the public, private, and civic sectors. He reveals how state officials met well-organized resistance in their efforts to build a High Occupancy Vehicle lane, replace a functionally obsolete bridge, and construct a new rail line. Dr. Plotch describes how New York shrewdly overcame the seemingly insurmountable obstacles of onerous environmental regulations, vehement community opposition, insufficient funding, interagency battles, and overly optimistic expectations.
