New York City Update
MTA Commits to $7.5 Billion in Capital Plan Contract Awards to MWBE/DBE/SDVOB Firms
NEW YORK—The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced Sept. 30 its commitment to award a historic amount to historically underutilized businesses as part of its recently announced 2025-2029 Capital Plan.
The authority expects to award $6.5 billion to $7.5 billion in contracts to state-certified minority- and women-owned business enterprises (MWBE), to service-disabled veteran-owned businesses (SDVOB), or to disadvantaged business enterprises (DBE).
In addition, the authority is committing to add 350 new businesses to its Small Business Mentoring Program over the next five years, which provides mentoring and financial support to grow the capacity of small businesses. The MTA is committed to providing contracts to these small businesses—including up to $400 million as part of its next capital plan. The MTA is also committing to certify another 300 firms as registered DBEs over the next five years.
The MTA said it is also committing to add local hiring goals to $5 billion of contracts in the 2025-2029 Capital Plan, translating to thousands of union-wage jobs directly in the communities where projects are based.
The MTA’s current local hiring pilot—started in 2022 enabled by federal guidance in President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—has already led to hiring of hundreds of people on projects based in Brooklyn and Queens.
To jump start these efforts, the MTA hosted an event on Sept. 30 attended by more than 250 businesses at the CUNY Graduate Center to make connections between MTA prime contractors with potential MWBE subcontractors, as well as graduates of the MTA Small Business Development Program.
“We announced our next five-year Capital Plan this month and there’s a lot of work to be done,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “When we talk about rebuilding and improving the transit system, this includes billions of dollars of work to be done by our diverse contracting community. As the fourth largest employer in the region, the MTA is proud to partner for an equitable and inclusive economy.”
“Beyond its essential role as a transportation agency, the MTA plays a huge role in the social and economic landscape of this city and region,” said MTA Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Lourdes Zapata. “As an industry leader with the best-in-state MWBE/SDVOB contracting program, it is important we continuously look for ways to increase awareness, connections and ultimately participation to ensure we’re doing our part in creating work and business opportunities that benefit our communities.”
MTA Construction & Development Jamie Torres-Springer said, “In 2023, 37% of all MTA contracts awarded went to MWBEs. With our 2025-2029 Capital Plan, we look forward to providing more opportunities with more ambitious goals to meet.”
Skanska/ECCO III JV Wins $848M Water Project in Yonkers
YONKERS, NY—Skanska USA Civil Northeast, Inc., along with its joint-venture partner ECCO III Enterprises, Inc., of Yonkers, NY, won a $848 million contract to construct a reservoir project in Yonkers. Skanska’s share of the contract is 75%, or $630 million, it was reported in ConstructionDive on Sept. 26.
Work began on the Hillview Reservoir Chemical Addition Facilities construction project in August 2024, according to a company press release, with expected completion in 2030.
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection decided in March 2019 to cover the concrete-lined Hillview Reservoir, built in 1917, to comply with the Safe Water Drinking Act. The reservoir is a key supply of drinking water for New York City, providing up to 100% of its clean drinking water.
The new chemical addition facilities are the first stage of the agency’s $2-billion plan to improve the Hillview Reservoir, which encompasses 90 acres in southeast Yonkers, the Yonkers Ledger reported.
The project entails upgrades to the existing north entrance and the addition of two new chemical facilities buildings on the Hillview Reservoir grounds. Work will also include the construction and implementation of two new electrical service feeds and associated distribution equipment, a new supervisory control and data acquisition system, an interim structure for chemical systems used for water quality monitoring and water carry pumps.
The facility will continue operating during construction. The project will also pursue LEED v4.1 certification.