Annual Report

Annual Report

Annual Report 2016


Advocacy


Throughout its 95-year history, the New York Building Congress has served as a leading advocate of city-shaping capital investments; ongoing maintenance and strategic expansion of the region's vast infrastructure network; and sensible public policy aimed at improving the way New York builds.

The organization's 2016 Policy Agenda focuses on each of these objectives, with a strong emphasis on support for a number of critical infrastructure projects unveiled over the past year; further increasing New York City's capital budget; and improving capital planning, procurement policies, and project management practices.

Infrastructure Expansion
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has outlined a historic $100 billion infrastructure agenda that, if realized, will vastly improve, modernize, and expand the City's transportation network while also stimulating billions of additional dollars in private investment.

Rendering of new LaGuardia Airport, Courtesy of Governor Andrew Cuomo's office

The Building Congress has made advancing the following key elements of the Governor's infrastructure agenda a top priority in 2016:

  • Ensuring full-funding for the $27.98 billion 2015-2019 MTA capital plan and a $27.14 billion six-year capital program for New York State's roads and bridges.
  • Funding, design, and construction of the Amtrak Gateway project, which would ease rail congestion and increase tunnel capacity under the Hudson River, while also providing a vital measure of redundancy in the system.
  • Creation of the Empire Station Complex, which would pair redevelopment of the existing Penn Station with fast-tracking the ongoing construction of the Moynihan Train Hall within the Farley Post Office building.
  • The total reimagining and reconstruction of LaGuardia and JFK Airports, which would be transformed into modern, efficient, and attractive gateways worthy of New York City.
  • Construction of a new, third track along the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Main Line, which would improve service by reducing congestion and train delays as well as enable reverse commuting to jobs on Long Island.
  • Expansion of the Jacob Javits Center, transforming it into the nation's largest convention space and ensuring it remains a top venue and economic generator for the City and State.

"The Building Congress is committed to working alongside our leaders in government to improve New York's infrastructure systems and pave the way for further economic growth and job creation throughout the State."

Richard T. Anderson, President, New York Building Congress

Ongoing Investment
Sustaining New York City's economy and quality of life requires ongoing investments in the City's extensive physical infrastructure.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, building on the robust investments of the previous administration, has made significant contributions to the City's capital program during his first term and has committed to help underwrite a significant portion of the MTA capital program. But the City must do more to address the increased strain being placed on its aging infrastructure by record levels of population growth, job growth, and private development.

The Building Congress has launched a new Capital Budget Campaign to raise awareness of the City's growing capital needs and urge specific strategies to meet them. Detailed in Building a Better NYC Capital Budget, those strategies include the City's development of a comprehensive capital planning process and identification of long-term priorities to guide capital investment decisions; meaningful changes to the City's project planning and procurement processes to reduce costs and increase efficiencies in delivering public works; and adoption of new dedicated revenue streams to fund the capital budget.

Legislative Priorities
The Building Congress has offered illustrative examples of dedicated revenue streams to support new and existing infrastructure, including uniform tolling of vehicles entering Manhattan's central business district, increasing the Petroleum Business Tax, and reinstating the commuter tax. Encouraging consideration of these and other revenue options, all of which would require State legislative approval, will be among the Building Congress' leading legislative priorities.

In addition, the Building Congress will continue to press for State legislation allowing broader use of public-private partnerships and design-build, both of which promote innovative financing and increased efficiencies in the management of major infrastructure projects. While both alternative project delivery methods have a record of success in New York, authority to use them has been statutorily limited to select State agencies and authorities.

Working in partnership with other statewide design and construction associations, the Building Congress also will continue to advocate passage of the New York State Emergency Responder Act, which reduces the liability risks faced by building industry firms that come to the City's aid in times of government-declared emergencies.

Supporting strategic economic development initiatives will likewise remain a high priority. In particular, the Building Congress will do its part to push for completion of the East Midtown rezoning plan, which will permit responsible renewal of one of the City's prime office districts, facilitate infrastructure investment, generate job growth, and expand the City's tax base.

Rendering of expanded Jacob Javits Center, Courtesy of Governor Andrew Cuomo's office, Credit: FXFOWLE, Epstein and Neoscape, Inc.

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