In New York, New Jersey and Arkansas, innovative delivery methods are driving faster timelines, lower costs and stronger community outcomes.
Design-build is transforming the way states approach infrastructure projects, with recent legislative and project successes in New York, New Jersey and Arkansas demonstrating its impact. Each of these states has embraced innovative delivery methods that streamline processes, cut costs and accelerate project timelines.
Cutting Red Tape in New York
New York’s design-build movement expanded its capabilities with landmark legislation signed by Governor Kathy Hochul allowing New York City to use progressive design-build and construction manager-build (CM-build) on a wide array of public projects. This change empowers the city to fast-track infrastructure improvements while reducing costs and increasing opportunities for underutilized business enterprises (UBEs).
Tom Foley, P.E., CCM, DBIA, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) and incoming DBIA National Board Chair, explained the practical implications of the reform. “A new era of great public works is becoming possible again for New York City,” he said, “We have shown what we can accomplish when we get the tools we need: delivering world-class public buildings and infrastructure years faster.”
The DDC plans to roll out its first solicitations for libraries, cultural institutions and resiliency projects in early 2025. Projects like the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in Brooklyn, the DBIA Project/Team Award winning Queens Borough Hall Municipal Garage and Community Center and the Mary Cali Dalton Recreation Center in Staten Island have already demonstrated the effectiveness of design-build, saving millions and shaving years off their timelines.
DBIA ED/CEO Lisa Washington, CAE, underscored the significance of the legislation: “New York’s reforms are a win for the entire design-build community. This progress shows how advocacy can pave the way for innovation and resiliency nationwide.”
For more on New York City’s design-build journey, listen to the October 2024 Design-Build Delivers Podcast, featuring NYC DDC Commissioner Tom Foley, NYC DDC Deputy Commissioner/General Counsel David Varoli and DBIA Director of State/Local Legislative Affairs Richard Thomas.
A New Era for Infrastructure in New Jersey
The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is preparing to launch its first-ever design-build project — a full replacement of the Route 50 Bridge over Cedar Swamp Creek in Cape May County. The $100 million project is a key part of New Jersey’s coastal evacuation route, providing safe and reliable passageways for residents in the region.
Acting Commissioner Fran O’Connor announced the project as a major shift for the state. “Finding innovative ways to deliver transportation projects helps advance Governor Phil Murphy’s vision of a safe, equitable and sustainable transportation system for all New Jerseyans,” O’Connor said. “Advertising NJDOT’s first design-build project is an important milestone in the implementation of a new way to bid and deliver select capital projects that offer opportunities for collaboration and cost-effective solutions.”
NJDOT has issued a request for qualifications to shortlist design-build firms, with final proposals due by mid-2025. The project’s selection process highlights how collaboration between designers and builders can improve communication, accelerate timelines and reduce costs — all benefits of design-build delivery.
This milestone comes on the heels of New Jersey’s renewed Transportation Trust Fund, which will support billions of dollars in infrastructure improvements. The Route 50 Bridge project is the first of what is expected to be many design-build initiatives in the state.
Delivering Results Ahead of Schedule in Arkansas
The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) recently celebrated the substantial completion of its first design-build project and largest-ever infrastructure project, the I-30 Crossing. This $540 million undertaking rebuilt nearly five miles of I-30 and I-40, connecting Little Rock and North Little Rock. The project, which began in 2020, was finished six months ahead of schedule.
The reconstruction addressed the growing demand for capacity in a corridor that sees over 125,000 vehicles daily. Originally expected to take until summer 2025, the early completion has already improved traffic flow, safety and accessibility in the region.
Lorie Tudor, Director of ARDOT, said, “Every day that it gets done earlier is a day that our traveling public does not have to go through a construction work zone. So it’s safer all the way around.” She attributed the success to innovative delivery methods, calling the project a “textbook example of teamwork, collaboration and perseverance.”
The I-30 Crossing illustrates the power of design-build in managing large-scale, complex projects efficiently. The project has also been recognized for its role in connecting communities and bolstering the regional economy.
The Bigger Picture: DBIA’s Role in Driving Change
Richard Thomas, DBIA’s Director of State/Local Legislative Affairs, said, “Design-build isn’t just about delivering projects faster — it’s about collaboration, innovation and creating better outcomes for communities. DBIA is proud to support states like New York, New Jersey and Arkansas as they embrace these methods, proving that design-build delivers.”
These wins underscore a nationwide trend of design-build reshaping infrastructure, creating opportunities and delivering results that matter. From coast to coast, DBIA continues to lead the charge, ensuring the adoption of design-build methodologies transforms the future of public projects.
