A symposium held Friday by the Tri-State Transportation Campaign discussed the usefulness that bus rapid transit could have on easing congestion through the Tappan Zee Bridge/Interstate-287.

Bus rapid transit has an interconnecting network of local and express buses that collect riders from their neighborhood and take them to employments centers where they work.

The most difficult problem in creating bus rapid transit is getting everyone to agree with transit-oriented development that would possible reshape some parts of the landscape and create walkable communities.

According to The Journal News, Jeff Zupan, a transportation fellow with the Regional Plan Association and a Rockland resident, explained that the public might need disincentives to agree to such rapid transit development. He suggests higher tolls on the Tappan Zee Bridge for rush-hour drivers. His plan is reflective of Mayor Bloomberg's Congestion Pricing initiative for Manhattan.