Albany, NY—Several public works projects that were bid competitively using the design-build project delivery system resulted in in bids that were lower than those bid using the conventional design-bid-build process, according to an issue brief on the topic issued today by The Public Policy Institute, the research and education arm of The Business Council of New York State, Inc.
The issue brief cites saving of $1.5 billion in construction costs on the design-build bids for the new Tappan Zee Bridge attributed to design-build by the New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA) and saving of $74.8 million in construction costs attributed to design-build by the New York State Department of Transportation on nine other design-build projects around the state.
The design-build project method was authorized in New York in 2011 for a three-year period which expires next month.
The issue brief also explores other state’s experiences with the design-build project method.
“The Business Council supports a clean, permanent extension of design-build without any other conditions attached,” said Heather C. Briccetti, Esq., president and CEO of The Business Council. “As consensus builds around applying a significant amount of the estimated $5 billion state surplus to badly needed infrastructure improvements across the state, design-build is one strategy that has demonstrated savings and would ensure that as many roads, bridges, rail lines and other infrastructure as possible could be reconstructed,” said Briccetti.
The full report is available on the Public Policy Institute of New York State, Inc. (PPI) website at ppinys.org.
PPI is a non-partisan, tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 organization. It does not accept public funds and depends on the support of corporations, foundations and the public.
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