– New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released a new report showing significant progress in reforming how public infrastructure is constructed across the five boroughs and celebrated New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s signing of legislation last week that enables the city to cut red tape and deliver projects faster and more efficiently for New Yorkers. The report outlines how the city has fully implemented, or is in the process of implementing, 100 percent of the Capital Process Reform Task Force’s 39 recommendations, made in 2022, to more efficiently deliver public infrastructure across New York City. The legislation Governor Hochul signed today — sponsored by New York Senator Leroy Comrie and New York Assemblymember Ed Braunstein — will build on that progress by expanding the city’s ability to use progressive design-build and construction manager build — two contracting models which cut time-consuming and expensive steps out of the outdated design-bid-build model, resulting in faster, more efficient project delivery. Governor Hochul also signed legislation — sponsored by New York Senator Luis Sepulveda and New York Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar — which will allow New Yorkers to submit comments on procurements over $100,000 online as opposed to requiring an in-person hearing; this will save an average of 20 days on every applicable project timeline.
“If it seems like city construction projects take forever, and your street has been cracked open for years on end, there’s a reason why: archaic rules here in New York, that have been eliminated nearly everywhere else in the country, mandate that we go at a snail’s pace,” said Mayor Adams. “New Yorkers deserve better — and thanks to our Capital Process Reform Task Force and Governor Hochul, we’re delivering just that. The legislation Governor Hochul signed will let us cut a full year off of hundreds of project timelines, saving taxpayers millions in the process. Our Task Force has found dozens of additional ways to help us build faster, better, and more efficiently, and we’re moving forward on all of their recommendations. This means more projects done on time, done on budget, and best of all — done.”
“From the moment I took office, I have been focused on cutting red tape to speed up investment in our communities,” said Governor Hochul. “Signing alternative delivery into law allows the city to streamline projects, eliminating the unnecessary obstacles that stand in the way of creating more community investments and good-paying jobs.”
“As we make these common-sense reforms, the real winners are everyday New Yorkers. While they may never learn the names of the hard-working civil servants who made this possible or understand how long this journey took, they will see transformational civic projects being delivered faster, with less interruption to their lives,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “The old system of announcing a project — and then waiting years upon years — is finally a thing of the past.”
“A new era of great public works is becoming possible again for New York City,” said New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Thomas Foley, national board chair, Design-Build Institute of America. “We have shown what we can accomplish when we get the tools we need: delivering world-class public buildings and infrastructure years faster through our inaugural design-build program and building critical facilities in record time for New Yorkers in emergencies. Thanks to this bill, it will no longer take an emergency to use common-sense tools like CM-build. We have already started laying the groundwork to expand our award-winning alternative delivery program to New York City’s libraries, cultural institutions, and critical resiliency infrastructure, and we look forward to releasing our first solicitations in early 2025.”
“These reforms will help New York City complete large-scale infrastructure projects more quickly and at lower costs,” said New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Practices like design-build can transform the city’s construction process and help us build better for New Yorkers across the five boroughs. We are grateful for the leadership of Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul, and for the partnership at the state legislature for these tools to create a more efficient capital construction process.”
“Building the infrastructure that will protect New Yorkers from our changing climate, including the flooding that threatens public safety and property, just got a tremendous boost that will cut costs and deliver the projects more quickly,” said New York City Chief Climate Officer and New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “These new tools will be put to use on the ongoing $2.6 billion work to build a comprehensive drainage system in southeast Queens, as well as other sewer upgrade projects across the five boroughs that are critical to keeping New Yorkers safe.”
“From public restrooms to recreation centers, NYC Parks maintains a network of vital living infrastructure that helps New Yorkers get active, connect with their neighbors, and enjoy all the mental and physical health benefits of time outside,” said New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “Thanks to design-build contracting, we’re able to provide these resources to New Yorkers faster and more efficiently. With projects like the new Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in East Flatbush, which will provide an affordable place to work up a sweat, and our investments in resiliency and greenway access along Manhattan’s East Side waterfront, alternative delivery is helping us make our city more accessible, green, and livable.”
“New Yorkers feel the impact of inefficient public construction every day, from delayed library and playground projects to years-long street closures. It doesn’t have to be like this,” said New York City Chief Delivery Officer Alison N. Landry, AIA. “Two years ago, the task force made a commitment to change the entire capital project delivery system to modernize aging infrastructure and meet demands of a changing climate. We’re implementing every single recommendation, with common-sense changes to save time and money while enabling agencies to build more efficiently, collaboratively, and inclusively. With the laws signed by Governor Hochul, we’ll modernize the contracting process and shave years off projects like library renovations and resilient infrastructure. I am proud to share the work we’re doing to build better and grateful to the committed partners working across and outside government to put these improvements into practice, delivering results for New Yorkers.”
The Capital Process Reform Task Force was formed by Mayor Adams in April 2022, and it is led by Deputy Mayor Joshi and Chief Delivery Officer Landry. It is comprised of a group of leaders representing the construction industry, labor, and minority- and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs) and tasked with undertaking a top-down review of the city’s capital process and recommending reforms, from project initiation to closeout. The reforms recommended by the task force and implemented by the city are improving scoping and planning, cutting down project initiation time, removing redundant reviews from procurement, increasing M/WBE participation, managing projects more effectively, cutting down on change orders, standardizing and streamlining invoicing and payment, improving the delivery of projects for libraries and cultural institutions, and supporting implementation of a citywide capital project tracker.
Specific reforms include:
- Consolidating design and construction procurements that, historically, were required to be separate, per state law, and added years to project timelines. The task force has already begun implementing its limited existing authority to consolidate those two procurements into one for permissible projects through design-build delivery; the legislation signed by Governor Hochul today greatly expands the city’s authority to avoid that archaic procurement process.
- Enabling electronic bidding, modernizing the bidding process towards a single digital system to submit and track construction bids that, historically, were required to submit paper bids — a resource-intensive and error-prone process. The task force championed a 2023 law that enables electronic bidding.
- Identifying obsolete and conflicting requirements related to invoicing and payment processes that, historically, required city agencies to have different processes, making it difficult for contractors that work across agencies. The changes by city capital agencies are being made based on the task force’s recommendation, and these agencies are now engaging with each other and industry stakeholders to share those updates before a new, unified process formally launches next year.
DDC’s pilot design-build program has already accelerated and improved generational projects across New York City. The new $141 million Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center that DDC is building for NYC Parks will offer a host of programming and amenities to encourage learning, recreation, and community and civic engagement, including multipurpose rooms; a gymnasium; a walking track; a media lab; an indoor swimming pool; fitness, strength, and cardio rooms; and a teaching kitchen. Using design-build, DDC anticipates completing the project at least two full years faster than originally planned and with a savings of at least $2.4 million. The $92 million Mary Cali Dalton Recreation Center in Staten Island is also being built using design-build and is anticipated to be completed at least two years faster.
The report comes after Mayor Adams secured two Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) with the Building & Construction Trades Council of Greater New York (BCTC) last week that will cover more than $1 billion in construction projects throughout the term of the agreements, including generational infrastructure improvements in Willets Point. These historic agreements will allow $800 million in planned infrastructure projects across the city to be completed using design-build delivery. The PLAs will also allow the city to complete capital projects more effectively and efficiently, connect more underserved New Yorkers to quality union career and apprenticeship opportunities through community hiring, and strengthen the city’s commitment to M/WBEs. Finally, the PLAs establish the framework for future negotiations with the BCTC for upcoming PLAs that could cover as much as $50 billion of future capital construction projects.
“The recent efforts from New York City Mayor Adams and New York Governor Hochul will reform construction developments around each of the five boroughs, ensuring infrastructure projects are delivered quickly and more efficiently,” said U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat. “Combined, these actions will help advance good paying union jobs and opportunities benefiting local communities across our entire state and the region.”
“I am pleased to have partnered with Assemblyman Braunstein to pass our bill after a multi-year effort working closely with DDC, the Office of the Mayor, and the American Council of Engineering Companies,” said New York State Senator Comrie. “Working with our friends in organized labor and the trades, as well as M/WBEs, Alternative Delivery will help ensure city construction projects vital to our infrastructure needs, are built on-time and on-budget. I thank Governor Hochul for recognizing the importance of developing good paying jobs and fostering economic growth, while providing our city agencies additional tools and methodologies to design and implement projects across New York City to lead us through the 21st century and beyond.”
“By facilitating the use of design-build construction, the progressive design-build bill will improve efficiency on major New York City construction projects, which will cut down project delivery times and taxpayer costs,” said New York State Assemblymember Braunstein. “I thank Senator Comrie, DDC and the mayor’s administration for collaborating with me on this bill, as well as Governor Hochul for signing it into law.”
“I was proud to lead reforms in our procurement process in Albany that will allow New York City to build faster and cheaper,” said New York State Assemblymember Rajkumar. “These reforms will cut costs by millions and shave years off completion times for transportation infrastructure, libraries, and schools. The groundbreaking progressive design-build bill we passed allows the city to select a contractor for both design and construction at the start. This accelerates the timeframe and allows collaboration to develop a more accurate delivery plan. I was also proud to pass my bill to modernize public comment requirements by bringing the process online, allowing us to build infrastructure in a New York minute. Together, we are developing every solution to expedite project delivery for New Yorkers.”
“Updating NYC’s procurement practices is essential for commerce in the 21st Century,’ said New York State Senator Luis R. Sepúlveda. “This legislation will afford more public comment in a timely manner thus ensuring the needs of the public, the taxpayers and the City of New York are satisfied.”
“Because of the Capital Projects Reform Task Force’s advocacy, the city’s infrastructure projects — from our large-scale climate resiliency work to our neighborhood dog runs — can get built with progressive design-build, construction manager build, and online public commenting,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. “New York City thanks our state leaders for giving us the tools to speed up construction and curtail budget overruns for our capital projects. In order to build a better city, we need the ability to execute projects with efficiency, transparency, appropriate safeguards, and opportunities for M/WBEs.”
“New York City must constantly improve its public infrastructure in order to maintain a high quality-of-life for its residents,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “That’s why I am so pleased that the implementation of the Capital Process Reform Task Force’s recommendations is allowing work on our infrastructure to move forward more quickly and efficiently, and with higher quality. I commend the administration for implementing these recommendations and thank Governor Hochul for signing the legislation sponsored by Senator Comrie and Assemblymember Braunstein that will allow infrastructure work to proceed even more smoothly and cost-effectively.”
“New York City’s community centers and spaces could one day be built on time and on budget because of our new abilities with progressive design-build, construction manager build, and transparent public commenting,” said Deputy Comptroller for Contracts and Procurement Charlette Hamamgian. “Because of our task force’s tireless advocacy, Albany granted us the tools to advance our capital projects with the appropriate safeguards, transparent processes, and efficiencies while also creating more opportunities for M/WBE companies. The Comptroller’s office looks forward to continuing to build our partnership in the upcoming session to transform our city’s capital processes.”
“As we head into 2025, it is crucial that New York City continue to adequately invest in public works and development projects that stimulate our economy and create thousands of good-paying union jobs and career opportunities for hard-working New Yorkers,” said Gary LaBarbera, president, Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. “It is clear that Mayor Adams recognizes the importance of properly supporting these initiatives and has made improving city construction processes a priority for the upcoming year. We applaud him for his continued commitment to successfully driving development projects forward and are eager to work with him to provide a skilled and dedicated workforce of tradesmen and tradeswomen who will continue to be at the forefront of building New York back better.”
“The Adams administration has prioritized capital process reform, and I am proud to see meaningful progress with removing barriers and making changes necessary to build better public assets,” said Lorraine Grillo, former First Deputy Mayor who launched the Capital Process Reform Task Force in 2022. “These state laws represent a real turning point for our city’s ability to build better and reflect strong support of the design and construction industry. I want to especially applaud DDC and Commissioner Foley for his leadership in implementing these reforms, which will benefit all New Yorkers.”
“Construction fuels the economic engines of New York City and New York State, and therefore, ACEC New York is proud to support common sense legislation that will accelerate the process so we can improve critical infrastructure and create new jobs that move our communities forward faster,” said John Evers, president and CEO, ACEC New York. “We are honored to serve on the mayor’s Capital Process Reform Task Force, and we applaud the governor and the state senate and assembly for adding new alternative delivery methods to state law. We look forward to continuing our work with the Task Force to further address the needs of the engineering and design community.”
“AIANY commends Governor Hochul for signing Alternative Delivery and Public Notice and Comment into law. These policies will enable NYC to design and build quality projects, saving time and money, and creating more MWBE opportunities,” said Jesse Lazar, executive director, American Institute of Architects New York (AIANY). “Unlocking the use of alternative delivery methods, such as CM-Build and Progressive Design-Build, will deliver innovative and quality projects that contribute value to the public realm. We applaud Mayor Adams on the new report detailing the progress made on the recommendations from the mayor’s Capital Process Reform Task Force and the work still to be done to deliver quality projects more efficiently.”
“The mayor’s package of legislation will bring greater efficiency to the capital investment process, bringing builders and the designers together from the start of a project,” said Elizabeth Crowley, president and CEO, Building Trades Employers’ Association (BTEA) and Task Force member. “By fostering earlier collaboration and utilizing the most current innovative practices, projects will be delivered more effectively, thus improving the quality of the final product. Early collaboration also provides greater engagement with M/WBEs, the local workforce and the community.”
“After years of support from labor, industry, and M/WBE leaders, the New York Building Congress is thrilled to see the Governor sign this important legislation that will help our City deliver quality results for New Yorkers in a more efficient, transparent, and equitable manner,” said Carlo Scissura, president and CEO, New York Building Congress. “CM-Build and expanded design-build authority will enable New York City to employ alternative procurement methods on cultural institutions and libraries, as well as crucial infrastructure upgrades we need to address to make a more resilient city. We have long advocated for public procurement to reward value and experience, and this package will do just that — helping pave the way for M/WBE opportunities and good paying construction jobs. We look forward to working together in upcoming sessions to continue to reform our state’s procurement processes and expand the use of alternative delivery.”
“The Subcontractors Trade Association commends Governor Hochul for signing the expanded Alternative Delivery legislation into law, said Felice Farber, executive director, Subcontractors Trade Association. “This landmark law, combined with the groundbreaking work of Mayor Adams’ Capital Process Reform Task Force, will significantly accelerate the development of critical infrastructure — whether it’s revitalizing our civic buildings or addressing the pressing challenges of climate change. By leveraging tools like CM-Build and Progressive Design Build, the city will not only be delivering projects faster and more efficiently, but also ensuring that our neighborhoods are built to withstand the future.”
“New York has significant infrastructure needs that require immediate action, but in order to improve our city’s built environment, we must also streamline the capital delivery process,” said Dan Sawh, president, Haydan Consultants, Inc. and Task Force member. “These two bills championed by Mayor Adams and the Capital Reform Task Force will help do that by allowing New York City to plan and deliver projects far more efficiently, saving time and money while also creating good jobs and opportunities for diverse companies. Thank you to Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul, as well as their respective administrations, for their leadership on this issue.”
“On behalf of DBIA and our members across the country, I am proud to hear that New York State and New York City continue to embrace alternative project delivery methods to design and build more efficiently using best practices from other jurisdictions,” said Lisa Washington, executive director and CEO, Design Build Institute of America. “I am especially proud of the work of the City’s Department of Design and Construction under the leadership of Commissioner Tom Foley, who will take the reins as DBIA’s Board Chair in 2025. This bill will allow Tom and the City team continue to deliver essential infrastructure in a timely, cost-effective manner that drives innovation and resiliency.”
“Regional Plan Association commends Governor Hochul and the New York City administration and the members of the Capital Process Reform Task Force for the much needed expanded alternative delivery and public hearing legislation,” said Tom Wright, president and CEO, Regional Plan Association. “It is imperative that the New York City region reduce the cost and time it takes to build the infrastructure needed to maintain health and prosperity, reduce inequality, and meet the challenge of climate change. We urge all parties responsible for implementing expanded alternative delivery, including the New York state Legislature and the New York City Council, to act now in collaboration with city agencies, private industry, and organized labor.”
“It is wonderful that our city now possesses more efficient tools to expedite project delivery to our communities,” said Raquel Diaz, vice president, Gilbane Building Company. “Whether it is a park, community center, or library, these projects can now be completed more swiftly. I eagerly anticipate seeing our communities reap the benefits!”
November 25, 2024 Manhattan, New York
Sources: NYC.gov, Midtown Tribune
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