February 2023

TARRYTOWN—Building trades officials in the lower Hudson Valley agree that despite high material prices, inflation and naysayer predictions of a recession ahead, heavy/highway construction and building contractors should expect a plentiful pipeline of work in 2023.

ALBANY—New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s $227-billion Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget is now being debated in the halls of the State Legislature here and at stake are billions of dollars earmarked for climate change, transportation, clean water and housing projects throughout the state.

WASHINGTON—Highways and bridges served as trusted agents of leadership at last night’s State of the Union address, when President Joe Biden doubled down on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to tout his administration’s accomplishments after two years in office.

TARRYTOWN, NY—In the face of having the worst road and bridge conditions in New York State, why do the counties in the Lower and Mid-Hudson Valley receive less state funding than other NYSDOT regions despite having more lane miles and more bridges?

The Occupation Safety and Health Review Commission’s recent decision in Secretary of Labor v. A Crane Rental LLC shows that subcontractors on a construction jobsite must ensure proper compliance with relevant safety standards, especially the specific standards applicable to their work. Although a subcontractor might not control or supervise the employees of other contractors on a site, they can be held responsible if they in any way violate applicable safety standards and create an unsafe situation.

NEW YORK—The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced on Dec. 21 that the MTA Construction & Development (C&D) will award a $382-million Design-Build contract to begin reconstruction efforts on the Park Avenue Viaduct in East Harlem.

In 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) finalized the new lease accounting standard (ASC 842) for private companies. After many years of pushback and delays, the time for implementation is here. The new standard must be adopted by companies with fiscal years beginning after Dec. 15, 2021 and for interim period financial statements beginning after Dec. 15, 2022.

Low bid news from around the state.

SLATE HILL, NY—Scannell Properties of Indianapolis, IN and Seattle, WA-based Amazon have filed a joint application with the Orange County Industrial Development Agency for tax incentives in connection with their proposed $229-million, 925,000-square-foot warehouse distribution project to be built on 100 acres of a former commercial sand gravel mine here.