New York State extends design-build authority

New York State legislators recently passed a budget that includes a provision to allow state agencies to continue to use design-build on projects.

The legislation expands the use of design-build for four years in existing agencies and authorizes eight new projects at four more agencies. Design-build was extended for four years for these agencies:

• New York State Thru-way Authority
• Department of Transportation
• Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic preservation
• Department of Environmental Conservation
• New York State Bridge Authority

Design-build was expanded to include eight additional projects by these four agencies:

• Urban Development Corporation
• Dormitory Authority & Urban Development Corporation
• New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority
• Office of General Services

Among the eight projects are: several Olympic Regional Development Authority resorts, a new regional visitors center in Essex County, a new State Police forensics lab and a new Life Sciences Laboratory. New York has lagged behind many other states in approving design-build authority, but the state has had some impressive successes, particularly on roads and bridges, according to the Design-Build Institute.