July 2024

NEW YORK—The fallout from the decision by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul last month to put the New York City congestion pricing tolling program on pause became painfully clear at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Board meeting on June 26 with the price tag being $16.5 billion in deferred capital projects.

NEW YORK—Federal and state officials joined the Gateway Development Commission, Amtrak and NJ Transit executives to announce the final federal funding in place for the long-sought after Hudson Tunnel Project, part of the Gateway project.

ALBANY—New York State officials announced late last month the start of a $517.5-million project to replace two bridges along the Bronx River Parkway between East Tremont Avenue and Bronx Park in the Bronx.

NEW HAMPTON, NY—The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825 (IUOE) hosted Gov. Kathy Hochul at its New York Training Center on July 10 to have New York’s chief executive see first-hand the work members are doing to enhance labor skills, support local employment and economic development, and improve the state’s infrastructure.

ALBANY—The New York State Gaming Facility Location Board recently unanimously approved an updated timeline for the Request for Applications for downstate commercial casino licenses, commencing with a June 27, 2025 application deadline and concluding with Gaming Commission license determination by Dec. 31, 2025.

DANVER, MA—New York State lost a true icon of construction industry leadership earlier this year when longtime association executive and advocate Francis X. McArdle, former managing director of the General Contractors Association of New York, Inc., passed away after a short illness on May 15 in Danvers, MA. He was 82.

WASHINGTON—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released a proposed rule intended to reduce heat injuries, illnesses, and deaths. Excessive heat exposure has been identified by OSHA as the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S. The first of its kind rule, if adopted, would be applicable to both indoor and outdoor workplace activities.