Site work and new construction of a mixed-use development in New York, New York. Completed plans call for the construction of a transportation facility; transportation facility; transportation facility; and for site work for a transportation facility.

https://www.enr.com/articles/63215-grant-certainty-emerges-as-new-fault-line-in-transportation-bill-talks After funding disputes disrupted major transportation projects, including the Gateway Hudson Tunnel, Chicago Transit Authority rail programs and New York's Second Avenue Subway expansion, lawmakers are asking a question that could shape the next surface transportation bill: How secure are federal transportation funding commitments once projects are underway? A June 3 letter from Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and 15 other Senate Democrats urged leaders of the Senate Environment and Public Works, Commerce, Banking and Appropriations committees to include protections against what they described as political interference in transportation funding, arguing that grant cancellations and delays have undermined confidence in the federal infrastructure program. "The next surface transportation bill must include protections for existing and future grant funding against inappropriate political interference," the letter states, in part. They also argued that Congress cannot have confidence in a new bipartisan transportation package if the administration is not faithfully implementing laws already on the books. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the five-year BUILD America 250 Act in May, but the Senate has not yet released its own reauthorization proposal. With current surface transportation authorities set to expire Sept. 30, lawmakers face a compressed timeline to develop Senate legislation and negotiate a final package. The letter arrives before Senate committees have released draft legislation, giving Democrats an opportunity to influence the debate before it advances to a floor vote. Looking for quick answers on construction and engineering topics? Try Ask ENR, our new smart AI search tool. Ask ENR ? Funding Disputes Move from Policy Debate to Project Delivery Risk For project sponsors, the issue is not theoretical. Earlier this year, the Gateway Development Commission sued the federal government after reimbursements tied to the $16-billion Hudson Tunnel Project were frozen. Officials later reported the funding interruption cost millions of dollars, delayed major contract awards and created new risks for construction sequencing and procurement timing. Read More CTA Faces Imminent Rail Work Stoppages as $2.1B Transit Funding Freeze Heads to Court In Chicago, transit officials warned that a $2.1-billion federal funding freeze affecting the Red Line Extension and Red and Purple Modernization programs would force contractor demobilization and work stoppages on active construction projects. A federal judge later ordered funding restored, allowing work to continue. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority separately sued the U.S. Dept. of Transportation for over $58.6 million in withheld reimbursements tied to the $7.7-billion Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project, arguing that interruptions to federal payment flows threaten procurement sequencing, contractor payments and active construction progress. Senate Democrats contend those disputes are symptoms of a larger problem. Their letter points to transit projects, road safety initiatives, electric vehicle infrastructure and other programs that have faced funding reviews, pauses or cancellations under the Trump administration. RELATED Gateway Says Hudson Tunnel Shutdown ‘Cost Millions,’ Delayed Contracts as April 16 Court Fight Looms House Proposal Offers Guardrails, Critics Want More The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's proposed BUILD America 250 Act already contains language aimed at addressing some of those concerns. Section 1101(f) states that the transportation secretary may not "terminate, withhold, or delay the execution of a grant agreement" because an award no longer advances "non-statutory program goals or agency priorities," an apparent attempt to limit future administrations from revisiting previously awarded projects solely because policy priorities have changed. The provision suggests lawmakers are already aware that grant administration itself has become a transportation policy issue. Critics argue the protections do not go far enough. Read More Second Avenue Subway Lawsuit Tests Federal Grant Limits After Gateway Ruling Stephan Davis, director of Transportation for America, argues the proposal does little to address grants that have already been canceled, rescinded or repurposed. Instead, he says lawmakers should first address grants awarded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that have since been canceled or had their funding withdrawn. "The starting point should be, let's make sure that all these things that we agreed to before actually get done properly, and then come and talk to me about getting more of my money," Davis says. Beyond funding levels and program priorities, a new question is emerging: Who controls transportation funding after it has been awarded? "Congress cannot have confidence in a final bill—even one that is bipartisan and negotiated in good faith—if the Administration is actively failing to implement the laws already in place," the senators wrote. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Republicans and the U.S. Department of Transportation did not immediately respond to requests for comment. -------------------------- In support of the engineering, design, environmental, property acquisition, utility relocation, and construction activities for the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project (SAS2), which will extend subway service north from East 96th Street and Second Avenue to 125th Street and Lexington Avenue, including three new stations at 106th Street, 116th Street, and 125th Street, the MTA Construction and Development Company (MTA C&D) requires the services of a Community Outreach Consultant. The consultant shall manage a robust community relations program to allow MTA C&D to provide the public with project status, alerts and information, improve public image and support, establish advocates and supporters within the community, communicate with elected officials, and solicit and incorporate feedback to minimize impacts to the neighborhood. *The value for this project is based on a financial range. The value is listed as the highest possible cost from the range provided by a stakeholder or official project document. Est $ Value: $5M - $10M