The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) East Side Access (ESA) project, the largest public transportation project nationwide, fell under heavy criticism yesterday for missing its budget by $4.4 billion and its completion date by 10 years. The result is that taxpayers must bear the brunt of the unanticipated costs of the project that is only half finished, according to a New York State Comptroller report released yesterday, March 6. The MTA had no comment on the report. ESA's current cost estimate is $8.76 billion, including additional railcar costs, when completed in August 2019; it was initially expected to cost $4.3 billion

The New York State Assembly adopted a resolution yesterday, March 6, to suspend state permits for natural gas hydraulic fracturing for two years to give lawmakers time to review health and safety data. The bill, Assembly 5424-A, would suspend such permits until May 15, 2015 and does not apply to drilling of conventional vertical natural gas wells outside the Marcellus and Utica formations. The state Senate is considering a similar measure. Under the Assembly bill, a State University of New York public health school is required to conduct a health impact assessment to identify risks associated with the process, also

The American Society of Civil Engineers' Outstanding Projects and Leaders (OPAL) program is honoring Charles H. Thornton, Thornton Tomasetti; Jeff Milton, Lane Corp.; Charles Ladd, MIT; Bo Temple, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and Mike Loose, Parsons Corp., with its Lifetime Achievement Award.Thornton Related Links: ENR New York ENR New York Featured People MaxLite, West Caldwell, N.J., has appointed Jeffrey Hirsch to customer support group manager. He will report directly to Zenny Haczyk, global operations director. LeonardVIP Structures, Syracuse, N.Y., has presented several employees with awards. The craftsmanship award was given to Chad Leonard for engineering; Jeff Milton for carpentry; Eric

Health care activity in the tristate region is expected to rise as the market comes to grips with some of the uncertainties that slowed it down last year, including health care and insurance reforms, executives say. But hospitals, contractors and other stakeholders are now grappling with a new problem in the wake of Superstorm Sandy"s devastating blow to many of their facilities—how to prevent that from happening again. While 2011's Hurricane Irene made these stakeholders rethink safety, security and emergency preparedness, Sandy has brought them back to the table to come up with something much more robust, speakers told attendees

New York Photo by Kevin Daley/National Park Service Monumental Work: The National Park Service says work is ongoing to repair damaged infrastructure at Liberty and Ellis islands. Related Links: ENR New York ENR New York's Featured News Liberty and Ellis Islands May Reopen in Summer It may be a few more months before visitors can walk around the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island again. The National Park Service (NPS) says it hopes to partially open the Liberty and Ellis island parks this summer, a few months shy of a year after the Oct. 29, 2012, Superstorm Sandy

The National Park Service (NPS) says it hopes to partially open both Liberty and Ellis islands this summer, which would be nearly a year after the Oct. 29, 2012 Superstorm Sandy caused massive damage and forced their closures. Docks, the promenade and structures surrounding the statue were among the most severely damaged, as well as the electrical systems, wastewater treatment and security screening equipment. Photo by Kevin Daley/National Park Service Liberty Island's severely damaged docks, walkways and other park infrastructure are "key" to a reopening and welcoming visitors back [to that island], says David Luchsinger, superintendent at NPS, which manages

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg laid out big plans in his final state of the city address today, Feb. 14, which included several initiatives that would call for industry-related services. This includes a proposal to amend the city's building codes to require that up to 20% of new parking spaces in private developments be "wired and ready" for electric cars. The mayor says this will create up to 10,000 parking spaces for such vehicles over the next seven years. He also proposed developing curbside vehicle charging stations that will allow drivers to charge batteries in 30 minutes. Photo by

New York City’s minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs) stand to gain ground by a new law slated to take effect this July, according to Sandra Wilkin, founder and president of Bradford Construction Corp., New York, who helped develop the legislation. Image: iStock Photo The Introduction 911-A law eliminates the $1-million cap on program-eligible contracts established by Local Law 129 in 2005. It also increases city procurement contracts in areas including architectural and engineering services. The city expects 911-A, which is slated to go into effect in July, to increase the overall value of program-eligible contracts to $2.2 billion, from

E.W. Howell, Plainview, N.Y., has promoted Robert Zirkel from project superintendent to vice president/general superintendent. In this role, he will provide executive support and oversee construction superintendents and field operations for the firm's Manhattan projects. Related Links: ENR New York ENR New York's Featured People   LomaxThornton Tomasetti, New York, has hired Scott Lomax as vice president. Lomax previously served as chief structural engineer at Zurich, Switzerland-based architecture and engineering firm Santiago Calatrava, where he worked on well-known projects including the World Trade Center Transportation Hub.The Spector Group, New York, has hired Robin Thompson as director of business development. The

New York Photo By Christopher D. Sondi Shakey ground: FEMA's new flood elevation maps double the number of NYC homes lying in flood zones. Related Links: ENR New York Featured ENR New York News At-Risk Homes Now Face FEMA's New Flood Maps With the senate's recent passage of a $50.5-billion Superstorm Sandy aid bill, some hard-hit homeowners in New York and New Jersey now face a new issue as the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently released new flood elevation map data for the city that details how rebuilding should occur. The new maps double the number of NYC properties lying