NEW YORK – Without comment, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council voted Monday morning to include the new Tappan Zee Bridge project in the 2010-2035 Regional Transportation Plan, making the project available for federal grant funding.

The bridge is estimated to cost $5 billion and the state has yet to reveal its plans for funding the massive undertaking to replace the current bridge over the Hudson River; however, it is understood that federal funding would be a necessity.

Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino, Rockland Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef and Putnam Executive MaryEllen are all members of the council and prior to the vote committing to supporting it.

The vote was unanimous with all members of the council supporting it.

Hudson Riverkeeper Paul Gallay, though, opposed their support at the present time, saying the state has not provided sufficient information about the funding to warrant their backing.