The program, which the agency says will improve safety and accelerate plan approvals, enables DOB inspectors to take a virtual tour of how a new building or major renovation will be built, visualize its complexities and review safety measures. This includes factors such as placement of the crane, construction of the standpipe system and installation of sidewalk sheds, the agency says.
Construction site safety plans are required for new buildings that are 10 stories and higher, gut renovations of buildings 10 stories and higher that involve mechanical demolition, facade restoration of buildings 15 stories and higher and buildings with a footprint of 100,000 sq ft or more.
Contractors may also use 3D images to submit amendments and revisions to their safety plan.
New York
Audit Finds Fraud In Construction Bids at SUNY 
DiNapoli
AN audit of the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn has revealed fake bids for construction contracts, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli recently announced. The state audit reveals that SUNY paid Brooklyn-based Eagle Two Construction and its affiliated "fake" companies $1.2 million between January 1996 and October 2010.
The affiliated companies, all located at the same address, had submitted competing bids in six separate procurements, some of which were forged, DiNapoli says. Eagle Two won $92,090 in contracts.
New York
N.Y. Bill Calls for $4.5B Transport Bond Issue
A New York state assembly member has proposed a $4.5-billion bond offering aimed at financing the state's future infrastructure needs.
The bill, introduced by Jim Brennan (D-Brooklyn), asks for a vote in November 2013 to authorize the state to borrow and pay the debt service on $4.5 billion of improvements for mass transit, roads, bridges, airports and other transportation-related work.
