Building Congress Event
New York Building Congress Annual Membership Meeting & Construction Industry Luncheon Forum
MTA'S STEWART: "WE NEED EVERY DOLLAR"
Despite the falling snow and ominous weather forecast, more than 500 members of the design, construction, and real estate industry came out for the New York Building Congress Annual Membership Meeting and Construction Industry Luncheon Forum at the Mandarin Oriental New York on January 26.
During the Annual Membership Meeting portion of the event, Building Congress President Richard T. Anderson said, “We are fortunate, indeed, to be at a pinnacle for design, construction, and real estate activity, and strong membership support for the Building Congress is enabling us to do more with the membership and for the industry.” He added, “This concludes my 20th year with the Building Congress, and it has been the most gratifying yet. Our staff is fortunate to work with and for one of the best memberships anywhere. Thank you for the opportunity and the rewards.”
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The featured speaker for the forum portion of the luncheon was Craig Stewart, Senior Director of Capital Programs at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Mr. Stewart filled in for Chairman and CEO Thomas Prendergast, who was needed to spearhead the MTA’s storm preparations.
Mr. Stewart focused his remarks on the need to fully fund the MTA’s five-year, $32 billion capital program, which will pay for maintenance, upgrades, and further expansion of the region’s intricate network of subway, bus, and commuter rail systems.
The $32 billion plan, which currently faces a funding gap of nearly $15 billion, devotes more than $17 billion for New York City subways and buses, $3 billion for Long Island Rail Road, $2.6 billion for Metro-North, and $3.1 billion for the MTA’s network of bridges and tunnels.
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Mr. Stewart said that $5.5 billion from the capital plan would be earmarked for ongoing system expansion projects, including East Side Access to Grand Central, the Second Avenue Subway, Metro-North access to Penn Station, and new Select Bus Service routes.
During his remarks, Mr. Stewart made a direct appeal to the building industry executives. “If we prove that we are working together to project costs, people will respond. If we can give better value to taxpayers and spend their money efficiently, we have a better chance at fully funding the capital plan.” When asked what the MTA would do if government is unwilling to close the funding gap, he emphatically said, “We believe $32 billion is the right number. We need every dollar in that plan.”
ENR New York co-sponsored the event, which was hosted by AECOM; Cauldwell Wingate Company, LLC; HAKS; Halmar International; Jack Resnick & Sons; Lend Lease (US) Construction LMB, Inc.; Parsons; Sciame Construction LLC; STV Group, Inc.; and Weidlinger Associates, Inc. Delta Air Lines contributed airfare for a raffle drawing.
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