PA Increases Contracts To W/MBE's

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has increased awards to minority-owned, women-owned and small business by more than 10 percent from 2001 to 2002.
The PA said that contracts to minority/women-owned and small business in 2002 totaled nearly $314 million, a new record. The total awarded in 2002 is up from the 2001 total of nearly $284 million. Awards were up in nearly every category, including a 73 percent jump in architectural and engineering contracts in the minority/women-owned sector and an overall 38 percent increase in construction subcontracting.

Contract awards resulted in the creation of 4,280 jobs, $182 million in wages and $485 million in economic activity in the region, said the PA.

"Our business and Job Opportunity staff has worked to provide opportunities for minority/women-owned firms and small businesses for more than 20 years. This is another example of our commitment to helping these firms prosper and grow," said Joseph Seymour, executive director of the PA.

ARTBA Urges CJEC to Endorse $375B Transportation Plan

The American Road and Transportation Builders Association is urging the Congressional Joint Economic Committee to endorse a $375 billion highway and transportation plan that it says will strengthen the economy and create new jobs.

"The only way to create jobs is to significantly increase federal highway and transportation investments," said ARTBA Vice President for Economics and Research Dr. William Buechner.

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee plan would provide $300 billion for highways and $75 billion for transit investment over the next six years to meet the nations transportation needs as documented in the U.S. Department of Transportation's 2002 "Conditions & Performance Report" to Congress.

"Boosting investment in transportation improvements is critical to creating new jobs and future economic growth in America," said Buechner. He cited federal government data showing that every $1 billion in federal highway investment created 47,500 jobs.
Buechner outlined several ways in which the public-private financing partnerships could supplement the core federal transportation investment programs including:
Lowering project eligibility to $50 million from the current $100 million under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA); and
Expanding a current pilot program to allow all 50 states to use some of their federal highway funds to capitalize State Infrastructure Bank revolving funds
.
"While private financing can be helpful in financing mega projects that are far too large for state budgets, the federal responsibility for supporting investment in highways and transit, however, cannot be ignored.

"With the federal highway, transit, airport and rail investment programs all due for reauthorization by the Congress this year, enacting the House T&I Committee leadership proposal and expanding public-private partnerships offer two opportunities to ensure the nation has the safe and efficient transportation network we need for the new century," Buechner concluded.

First Phase of Hudson River Park Completed

The first phase of the Hudson River Park has opened from Clarkson to Horatio streets along the Hudson River. "This is one of the most important civic projects in our city in 100 years," said Douglas Durst of The Durst Organization. The park's main entrance is at Christopher Street with four additional entry points along the esplanade, providing additional access to the park. The park will be open day and night and features new lighting along the esplanade.

The design team led by New York-based Abel Bainnson Butz Landscape Architects included Sowinski Sullivan Architects; Han-Padron Associates, marine engineers; Domingo Gonzales Associates, lighting designer; Afridi Associates; consulting engineers; VJ Associates, cost estimator; and Tulley Construction Co. Inc., general contractor.