Annual Report 2017
Advocacy
Throughout its 96-year history, the New York Building Congress has been a leading advocate for enhanced investment in the region's vast infrastructure network, strategic economic development, and the advancement of the building community through greater collaboration between industry representatives and government officials. The Building Congress has developed a robust Policy Agenda for 2017, which is focused on broad improvements to New York's transportation system, enacting legislation necessary to ensure the continued growth of the city's economy, and expanding development opportunities in all five boroughs.
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
New York City is increasingly reliant on an outdated transportation network that is straining to keep pace with the city's growing population and employment base. The Building Congress will aggressively push for Governor Cuomo's visionary proposals to expand, modernize, and transform the region's vital system of airports, subways, commuter rail, and bridges. The 2017 Policy Agenda prioritizes support of such multi-year initiatives as the Amtrak Gateway project, a new Penn/Moynihan Station complex, the master plans for LaGuardia and JFK Airports, a third track along a portion of the Long Island Rail Road, the next phases of the Second Avenue subway, and the BQX streetcar project. The Building Congress will also work to identify the next generation of transportation projects to accommodate future economic and population growth in New York City and the broader metropolitan region.
CAPITAL PLANNING
While recent years have seen the city make unprecedented levels of investment in its core infrastructure components, the Building Congress is calling for the City to increase its investments even further in 2017 and the years to come. The Building Congress will monitor the City's Fiscal Year 2018 Preliminary and Executive Capital Budgets to ensure that spending continues to flow to critical infrastructure and offer thorough analyses and testimony on budget details. Additionally, the City must demonstrate a longer-term commitment to its 10-year strategy to accommodate growth in the population and economy.
The Building Congress will continue to be a vocal proponent of dedicated sources of revenue devoted entirely to the City and State's capital programs. The Building Congress encourages the consideration of such revenue options as instituting a uniform toll on vehicles entering Manhattan's central business district; increasing the Petroleum Business Tax; removing the artificial cap on the gasoline sales tax; and increasing the MTA region sales tax surcharge.
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
The Building Congress advocates legislation that will spur development, streamline the building process, and inject a greater degree of innovation and efficiency into government projects.
Working with other industry organizations, the Building Congress is leading efforts to pass the Emergency Responder Act, increase the use of design-build for City and State projects, and improve worker safety while ensuring that construction is not constrained by unnecessary and burdensome regulations.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Building Congress will increase its efforts to promote strategic economic and housing development projects across the five boroughs. Priorities include the proposal to rezone Greater East Midtown for new office development as well as a series of rezoning initiatives in neighborhoods that have the capacity for new development and where affordable housing is in short supply.
With an eye on New York City's growing population, economy, and built environment, the Building Congress will closely monitor progress on the closure of Indian Point Energy Center and ensure that an affordable plan is developed to replace this source of clean energy for New York.
Additional resources will be dedicated to promote the importance and scale of the cultural sector. The Building Congress will urge the City and State to provide adequate financial support to allow this sector to grow and serve more residents and visitors.
