Annual Report 2000

The Year in Review

Through testimony, forums, meetings with leading public and agency officials, and coordination of industry involvement, the Building Congress acts as a vocal and committed advocate of sensible long-term public investment designed to ensure New York City's continued role as a global leader in arts, tourism and commerce.

Thanks to member involvement and support in 1999, funding and approvals were secured for a number of high-profile capital projects vital to the City's future prosperity. The Building Congress, in its role as a vehicle for industry advocacy, played an integral part in moving these critical projects forward.

Pennsylvania Station
A large contingent of design, construction and real estate executives joined President Bill Clinton, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Governor George E. Pataki for a ceremony to support a new Pennsylvania Station at the Farley Post Office. The Building Congress sponsored a breakfast reception prior to the program.

Nearly the entire $484 million cost of construction for this project has been secured by City, State and federal appropriations. When completed, Penn Station will serve more passengers than LaGuardia, JFK and Newark Airports combined, and spur considerable retail and tourist activity.

Airtrain
New York City residents, business travelers and tourists achieved a major victory when the City Council approved the AirTrain, a $1.5 billion light rail system linking John F. Kennedy Airport to the region's mass transit network. Through testimony, editorials, and meetings with key officials, the Building Congress has been diligently supportive of this and other efforts to improve access to the region's airports.

Schools Construction
The New York City Board of Education's five-year, $7 billion school construction plan, approved in May, will provide seats for nearly 33,000 more students. The Building Congress warns, however, that the City needs multiple investments at these levels, over the course of the next two decades, in order to reverse the school system's infrastructure decline and accommodate additional students. During negotiations, the Building Congresshosted a forum featuring then Schools Chancellor Rudy Crew, and provided testimony on behalf of the Board of Education's capital budget.

MTA Capital Program
In September, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board approved the MTA's five-year, $17.5 billion capital program, which the Building Congress strongly endorsed. When approved by the State Legislature, the plan will signal the biggest and most strategic expansion of the region's mass transit system since the 1930's. The Building Congress provided testimony before key New York State Assembly committees and hosted forums with MTA Chairman E. Virgil Conway and Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver. At these widely-attended assemblies, members were urged to express their approval of the plan's scope as well as efforts to build a full Second Avenue Subway line.