It doesn’t take an expert to tell you that projects in New York take too long to finish. Just drive on the Van Wyck Expressway, which has been under construction on and off since it opened more than 70 years ago – much to the frustration of anyone traveling from my district in The Bronx to JFK.
This issue hits close to home for both of us. I started my career at Turner Construction before joining the Assembly, focusing on building things faster and cheaper. The Building Congress represents over 500 organizations working across all stages of construction and development. We’ve seen firsthand how project delays drain resources and test public patience. Now, major projects like highway repairs are at risk because of funding cuts and potential tariffs on steel and aluminum are likely to drive construction costs even higher.
New York needs to act now. We must equip our city with tools to build economically, efficiently and equitably – regardless of what roadblocks the federal government creates. This is where Alternative Delivery comes in.
But what exactly is Alternative Delivery? Think of it as a smarter way to build. Instead of the old approach where designers finish their work completely before builders even see it, methods like Design-Build and Construction Manager Build bring builders into the process from the start. This eliminates the usual delays between the design and construction phases.
When builders join the conversation early, they collaborate with designers to spot potential problems before they become expensive mistakes. This early teamwork means better risk management from day one, fewer delays, greater transparency, and tighter cost controls.
The benefits extend beyond just saving time and money. Alternative Delivery creates more opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses by awarding contracts based on quality and value rather than just the lowest cost. This means more firms can compete for projects.
These methods offer a rare win for everyone involved: government agencies can set and oversee Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise goals for both design and construction, engage local firms earlier for workforce development, collaborate with unions on apprenticeship recruitment, and make payment tracking easier for selected firms. The Department of Design and Construction’s M/WBE engagement rate for these projects is over twice as high as traditional contracts – crucial at a time when inclusivity programs face attacks.
Look at Brooklyn’s Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center, where M/WBE firms make up 39% of construction dollars and 49% of design firms – well above the city’s 30% goal. This community center is on track to finish two years faster than traditional methods would allow, saving millions.
While the rest of America already uses these methods to deliver major projects like airports and transit infrastructure, New York lags behind. Last year, Gov. Hochul signed legislation expanding the city’s Design-Build options, but only for a limited scope of projects. We need to do more – and fast.
Governor Hochul’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026 includes crucial amendments to allow all city agencies currently using Design-Build to access this expanded toolkit for capital projects. The State Legislature must approve these changes within weeks.
The Trump Administration will continue creating obstacles for New York’s infrastructure needs. We can’t wait for federal help that may never come. It’s more critical than ever that our agencies have the flexibility and tools needed to deliver results quickly to New Yorkers.
These expanded Alternative Delivery options must be included in the FY26 budget. If we want to build a New York that’s faster, fairer, and more resilient, we must give our agencies the freedom to deliver projects the way our city deserves – efficiently, equitably, and without delay. The time to act is now.
Assembly Member Landon C. Dais represents District 77, and Carlo A. Scissura is the President and CEO of the New York Building Congress.
