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Streets to be ripped up less, repaired faster thanks to bill's signing
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Governor George Pataki announced yesterday that he has signed a bill that will help the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan by making certain that construction in the downtown neighborhood occurs in the most time-conscious manner while also ensuring fairness, safety, and cost efficiency.
The Coordinated Construction Act for Lower Manhattan, first proposed in June 2003 by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, is part of a broader initiative on behalf of the state and city to ensure the participation of women- and minority-owned businesses in the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan and the coordination of public projects downtown through a central downtown command center.
"As we move our Lower Manhattan redevelopment plans from paper to steel, it has never been more important than now to provide for the fast, fair, and safe means of developing public projects," Governor Pataki said in a statement. "In the next few years we will have numerous construction projects underway including the world's tallest building, a 21st-century transportation hub at the World Trade Center site and Fulton Street, and a memorial to remember and honor those we lost."
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| Construction vehicles will be required to use ultra low diesel fuel |
"All of these projects will require tremendous cooperation and coordination amongst the rebuilding agencies and private developers; all of whom have spent the last two years meeting to coordinate the logistics while assisting in the development of the soon to be created Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center," the governor said.The Coordinated Construction Act includes provisions that will allow public agencies to pre-qualify bidders, which ensures speed and high quality. It permits the city and the utility and telecommunications companies to bid together on infrastructure projects, which will reduce the need to rip up streets repeatedly. It also requires all public agencies to use ultra low diesel fuel with construction vehicles, which keeps the air clean and workers healthy.
Additionally, the act requires the use of contractors with state-certified apprenticeship programs on large projects, which will increase safety on the worksite, ensures minority access to construction jobs, and trains a future skilled workforce. Further, the act requires that the city follow the state's laws on the hiring of minority- and women-owned businesses, which promises wide opportunities.
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| Downtown rebuilding to add thousands of construction jobs in next decade |
"In June 2003, we proposed the Coordinated Construction Act to allow city agencies to utilize established best practices to coordinate construction projects in the Lower Manhattan area," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement. "The act permits us to move forward quickly, safely, and fairly as we rebuild Lower Manhattan -- a massive undertaking that will add thousands of construction related jobs to the city's economy each year over the next 10 years."
"Enacting this legislation sends the important message that Lower Manhattan is headed for a dynamic recovery and I want to thank Governor Pataki, Speaker Bruno, and Speaker Silver for their invaluable efforts that allowed for the swift passage of this important piece of legislation," the mayor said.
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