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The Year in Review
Through
testimony, forums, meetings with leading public and agency officials,
and coordination of industry involvement, the Building Congress acts
as a vocal and committed advocate of sensible long-term public investment
designed to ensure New York City's continued role as a global leader
in arts, tourism and commerce.
Thanks to member involvement and support in 1999, funding and approvals
were secured for a number of high-profile capital projects vital
to the City's future prosperity. The Building Congress, in its role
as a vehicle for industry advocacy, played an integral part in moving
these critical projects forward.
Pennsylvania Station
A large contingent of design, construction and real estate executives
joined President Bill Clinton, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and
Governor George E. Pataki for a ceremony to support a new Pennsylvania
Station at the Farley Post Office. The Building Congress sponsored
a breakfast reception prior to the program.
Nearly the entire $484 million cost of construction for this project
has been secured by City, State and federal appropriations. When
completed, Penn Station will serve more passengers than LaGuardia,
JFK and Newark Airports combined, and spur considerable retail and
tourist activity.
Airtrain
New York City residents, business travelers and tourists achieved
a major victory when the City Council approved the AirTrain, a $1.5
billion light rail system linking John F. Kennedy Airport to the
region's mass transit network. Through testimony, editorials, and
meetings with key officials, the Building Congress has been diligently
supportive of this and other efforts to improve access to the region's
airports.
Schools Construction
The New York City Board of Education's five-year, $7 billion school
construction plan, approved in May, will provide seats for nearly
33,000 more students. The Building Congress warns, however, that
the City needs multiple investments at these levels, over the course
of the next two decades, in order to reverse the school system's
infrastructure decline and accommodate additional students. During
negotiations, the Building Congresshosted a forum featuring then
Schools Chancellor Rudy Crew, and provided testimony on behalf of
the Board of Education's capital budget.
MTA Capital Program
In September, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board
approved the MTA's five-year, $17.5 billion capital program, which
the Building Congress strongly endorsed. When approved by the State
Legislature, the plan will signal the biggest and most strategic
expansion of the region's mass transit system since the 1930's.
The Building Congress provided testimony before key New York State
Assembly committees and hosted forums with MTA Chairman E. Virgil
Conway and Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver. At these widely-attended
assemblies, members were urged to express their approval of the
plan's scope as well as efforts to build a full Second Avenue Subway
line.
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