News

NEW YORK—Will the new revenues streaming from congestion tolling infuse public coffers with enough money to fill the budget deficit in the MTA’s capital program—estimated at $33 billion?

ALBANY—In advance of her 2025 State of the State address on Jan. 14, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a series of funding initiatives geared at addressing the housing shortage and affordability crisis, improving Metro North rail service in the Hudson Valley region and child care facility construction.

Sen. Pete Harckham – I have been fighting for increased investments in New York’s roadway and clean water infrastructure since taking office in the State Senate for three simple reasons: to protect the safety and public health of residents, to support the creation of good union jobs and to bolster future economic development that will benefit our communities in myriad ways.

ALBANY—The New York State Department of Transportation has received a $32-million grant to advance the use of low carbon materials in construction
projects.

ALBANY—The Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors recently approved more than $428 million in financial assistance for water infrastructure improvement projects across New York State. The Board’s approval authorizes municipal access to low-cost financing and previously announced grants to get shovels in the ground for critical water and sewer infrastructure projects, including treatment processes to remove emerging contaminants from drinking water and improvements that will modernize aging systems.

The case of Electrical Contracting Solutions Corp. v Trump Village Section 4 Inc., reported here last June reminded contractors that, where a license is required to perform work, it is also a requirement to recover in court for such unpaid work. In that case, an appellate court held that where the contractor that entered into the contract for licensed work was not licensed, it was not able to recover—even though it performed that work with a licensed subcontractor.

ALBANY—Funding for a major transportation program designed to increase rail service capacity, reduce delays, improve safety and cut potential travel times in the Hudson Valley will be part of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2025 State of the State next week. On Sun., Jan. 5, the governor called for a major investment that will create a “Super-Express” Metro-North service that would shorten reliable commuter transport between New York City and Poughkeepsie to less than 90 minutes.

YONKERS—For nearly two decades, Empire City has served as a major economic engine for Westchester, the surrounding area and all of New York State. Empire City recently surpassed $5 billion of funding earmarked for New York State education, and it has contributed more than $1.3 billion of that over the past five years, a top executive of the company noted.

Many motor vehicles, including those in the construction industry, are equipped with rear-view cameras, but older vehicles in use may not have them. The perils posed by vehicles reversing during construction operations with obstructed views are quite evident, and OSHA has in place specific rules to protect workers. For example, a vehicle operating within an off-highway jobsite (closed to public traffic) is required to have either a reverse signal alarm above the surrounding noise level or require the presence of an observer to signal to the driver that it is safe to reverse.

Over the past four decades, Mike Popp has channeled the suffering and despair he personally experienced as a young man into the hope and recovery service that has benefitted thousands of people who faced personal or family troubles in their lives. You can hear it the tone of his voice; he has a compassion for people who suffer from substance abuse, from the mounting stress of these increasingly complex times and from the temptation to walk on the darker side of life.