For Immediate Release

New York City Council
City Hall, New York, NY 10007
(212) 788-7116

November 25th, 2007

Council Announces the Creation of the Infrastructure Task Force

CITY HALL - Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn today announced the creation of an Infrastructure Task Force (ITF), which will be led by Council Members Dan Garodnick and Letitia James.  The ITF will examine major non-City expansion projects to assess their impact on existing infrastructure.  The task force will also consider the City's ability to maintain these new projects while keeping existing infrastructure in a state of good repair.

Projects like Eastside Access, Moynihan Station, ARC Hudson Development, the Second Avenue Subway and the World Trade Center Redevelopment, which are being undertaken by a wide range of non-City entities such as the MTA, the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) and the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC), currently have no coordinating entity operating on the city level that can examine the implications of their development on the city as a whole. 

"New York City is experiencing an unprecedented wave of development that is improving our infrastructure and creating jobs," said Speaker Christine C. Quinn.  "However, there has been little examination of how these projects are going to effect our existing infrastructure on a citywide scale.  We need to look at how each major development project is going to affect the quality of life for area residents and the overall state of our infrastructure.  The Infrastructure Task Force will broaden the scope of the Council's oversight and help to find solutions, so that our infrastructure keeps up with the pace of our City." 

"Let us not be the victims of our own success," said Council Member Dan Garodnick.  "As New York City continues to grow and evolve, we need to take the long view, and make sure that our infrastructure keeps pace with our development plans.  The reliability of our energy, transportation and water systems depends on making responsible commitments now."

"The newly formed Infrastructure Task Force is necessary because New York City continues to expand and grow at an extremely high rate," said Council Member Letitia James.  "As co-chair of ITF, our plan is to be proactive in order to prevent infrastructure failures, such as the recent bridge collapse in Minnesota.  I am also concerned about whether or not adequate infrastructure is in place for the many large-scale construction projects currently in the works.  Oversight by the Council will ensure that the needs and concerns of all stakeholders are considered."  

The ITF will evaluate crucial parts of the City's infrastructure that are not dealt with in traditional oversight hearings conducted by the Council, focusing specifically on capital assets that are controlled by the federal government, New York State and many private corporations.  These assets include, but are not limited to, highways, mass-transit projects, telecommunication and energy infrastructure, and airports. 

Many of these non-City entities do not publicly provide an adequate breakdown of their holdings, making it difficult to determine the condition of their facilities.  This situation will only be magnified as major new infrastructure projects undertaken by non-City entities are implemented without any coordination or oversight in the context of the City's overall capital plan. 

In working with the different entities, the task force will also seek answers to critical questions, such as: 
· Is there a sufficient framework for coordination between the various City and non-City agencies, so that projects are examined within the greater context of the City's capital plan and given appropriate oversight by the City?
· How are the needs for major infrastructure projects balanced with the need for keeping critical infrastructure in a state of good repair?
· Do we have a sufficient workforce in the building trades to complete these projects?
· How can we ensure that the funding is in place for these new projects so they can reach completion?
· Do we have the infrastructure necessary to handle all the demands that large-scale construction projects will require?

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