During the next several months,  federal and state governments will have to answer the public's concerns and questions about a Tappan Zee Bridge replacement before they can render a final decision on the $5 billion project.

U.S. Rep. Nan Hayworth has added her name to the growing chorus of officials who want mass transit on the new Tappan Zee Bridge.Nearly 650 comments have been submitted to the Federal Highway Administration, the state Department of Transportation and the New York State Thruway Authority, the Journal News reported. The critiques responded to the project's massive draft environmental study, which found that a new, twin-span bridge would cause no significant impact to the Hudson River and neighboring communities.

Among the top concerns about the project are its financing, environmental impact, appearance and viability without mass transit.

The state wants to build a wider, safer bridge to replace the 56-year-old Tappan Zee Bridge. The new span is intended not only to ease traffic congestion in Rockland and Westchester counties but also to create tens of thousands of jobs. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has worked with the Obama administration to fast-track the project. However, the governor has come under criticism for omitting accommodations for mass transit -- something on the drawing board for a very long time, and for good reason -- alleviating vehicular congestion. If you'd like to speak up for mass transit on the new bridge, click here.

Officials in charge of the Tappan Zee Hudson River Crossing Project will respond to the issues in the final environmental impact statement, which is expected to be released in June.

"Those of us that are host communities to the new bridge have to do everything we can to make our voices heard and try to understand the impacts and how they can be mitigated," Nyack Mayor Jen Laird-White said. "I don't think it's a done deal until we have a bridge sitting in our backyard."