On December 6, 2011, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced an agreement among state legislators to enact the New York Infrastructure Fund Act, a $1 Billion jobs program aimed in part at New York’s ailing roads and bridges.  http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/1262011GrowTheEconomy%20  DBIA’s press release notes that under the new Infrastructure Act, “the Department of Transportation, Thruway Authority, Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Bridge Authority will use design-build project delivery for the first time.”  This is major victory for public design-build project delivery, which has been historically disfavored in New York.

The Governor’s office touted the benefits of design-build, noting that “legislative leaders agreed on proposing legislation that will permit the New York Works Infrastructure Fund to bid the design and construction of infrastructure projects as a single contract, reducing costs and improving construction time. Passage of ‘Design-Build’ legislation would shave 9 – 12 months from the construction time of major infrastructure projects. The Fund would also streamline permitting and regulatory approvals for infrastructure projects and procurements and consolidate activities across agencies and authorities.”  http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/1262011GrowTheEconomy%20