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.”

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

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving
Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.

Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan
Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.

Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding
The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.
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