New York, Ohio Expand Design Build Authority

The New York State Departments of Transportation, Thruway Authority, Bridge Authority, Environmental Conservation, and Parks and Recreation are now authorized to award projects using design build.  According to this This ENR article, "Richard Thomas, DBIA vice president of advocacy, calls the legislation a major victory as New York currently allows design-build only for dormitory construction and, more recently, for emergency infrastructure repairs after Hurricane Irene. He notes that earlier this year Ohio also expanded its use of design-build for certain transportation sector work."

The state will set aside $700 million in order to accelerate capital projects, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is slated to add another $300 million.  A separate $1 billion dollar public-private infrastructure fund is being established.

This added design build authority will be on a short leash;  the program is slated to expire three years after enactment.