New Report Shows Implementation of Capital Process Reform Task Force Recommendations, Saving Time and Taxpayer Dollars
Our Bureau
New York, NY
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has 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 — 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and construction manager build — two contracting models which cut time-consuming and expensive steps out of the outdated design-bid-build model, resulting in faster, more efficient project delivery.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.”
