A new report proposes changes to the New York City Department of Design and Construction in the hopes of limiting extreme cost overruns and delays.

"The de Blasio administration plans to unveil major changes Thursday to curb the eye-popping cost overruns and delays that have wasted millions of taxpayer dollars on municipal projects, such as a 400-square-foot park bathroom that took eight years to build," according to an article by Joe Anuta.
The Department of Design and Construction, which acts as the city's contractor for most projects, has "drafted a report [pdf] that lays out a path to bring projects in on time and on budget and make dealing with government less of a headache for vendors—which would increase competition and attract more bidders, including minority- and women-owned businesses."
"The department's report proposed a more streamlined process up front with fewer layers of approval and less room to alter designs midstream," adds Anuta.
The new rules would also "create a dedicated pot of funding for change orders, a dreaded term in the contracting business that describes project alterations during construction," according to Anuta.
FULL STORY: City unveils major overhaul to stop wasteful projects

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.

Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.

Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
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