The U.S. Tennis Association is expected to name the construction manager for its $550-million-plus Billie Jean King National Tennis Center project in Queens as early as the second week of July, say sources close to the project. Rendering Courtesy of Rossetti Work began on the three-phase project in April and is set for completion in August 2018, in time for the U.S. Open Tennis Championships that year. The three-phase project includes building a $150-million, Rossetti-designed retractable roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium as well as two new stadiums on the 46.5-acre site. Rossetti is the original stadium’s architect.Phase one began in

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and New Jersey Transit are set to receive $234 million in federal funds as reimbursement for ongoing capital work as well as new projects related to Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts.Under the Federal Transit Administration’s Emergency Relief Program, PANYNJ was awarded about $167 million for the PATH rail system and NJT $67 million. The U.S. Dept. of Transportation’s agency so far has allocated $1.36 billion to PANYNJ and $448.2 million to NJT through the program. For all transit agencies eligible to receive Sandy aid, FTA says it has so far allocated about

While accidents involving large circular saw blades failing can happen, it is highly unusual for a blade to become dislodged from its saw and fly off into the air, says one industry expert, referring to such an incident that occurred at a Manhattan job site on May 27. The 3-ft-diameter blade appears to be from a slab saw, or flat saw, which is typically used to cut thick concrete structures and roadways and is tough enough to cut through steel reinforcements, says Russell Hitchen, a staff member of the non-profit Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association (CSDA), which provides training, forums

The New York City Economic Development Corp. has issued a request for proposals to conduct a feasibility study for flood protection of Superstorm Sandy-damaged neighborhoods adjacent to Brooklyn’s Coney Island Creek. Also under consideration are waterfront access and quality improvements to these communities, as well as stormwater management and economic development, the agency said in a May 16 announcement.The feasibility study, which NYCEDC will manage on behalf of the Mayor’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency, is scheduled to commence this fall and evaluate a tidal barrier and wetlands concept that the city put in place after the October 2012 superstorm.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority says that Metro-North Railroad has completed 14 of the 27 safety measures either mandated or suggested in the Federal Railroad Administration’s review of its operations earlier this year. The railroad has made progress on five of the measures and has a plan for eight more, MTA says. The May 15 announcement came the same day that the National Transportation Safety Board made safety recommendations to both MTA and FRA. Safety steps taken since last December include train speed reductions, automated track inspections and cab cameras, MTA says. It adds that it has begun to expedite implementation of positive

Staten Island, N.Y.-Elizabeth, N.J. Related Links: ENR New York ENR New York Featured News Work Begins on New $1.5B Goethals BridgeAfter nearly a decade of negotiation and debate, work began earlier this month on the $1.5-billion project to replace the more than 80-year-old Goethals Bridge. Substantial completion of the new cable-stayed bridge—said to be the Northeast region's first surface transportation project built as a public-private partnership—is expected in late 2016, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.The bridge, which connects Staten Island, N.Y., with Elizabeth, N.J., will include wide travel lanes and 12-ft shoulders aimed at

Metropolitan Transportation Authority says that Metro-North Railroad has completed 14 of the 27 safety measures either mandated or suggested in the Federal Railroad Administration’s review of its operations earlier this year. The railroad says it has made progress on five of the measures and has a plan for eight more. Photo by Sue Pearsall Tracking Safety: Metro-North Railroad has completed 14 of the 27 safety measures either mandated or suggested in the Federal Railroad Administrations review of its operations, MTA says. Steps taken since last December include train speed reductions, automated track inspections and cab cameras, MTA says in a

Stevens Institute of Technology (SIT) has presented Cristina Martinez, a senior associate at Thornton Tomasetti's Newark office, with the Young Alumni Achievement Award. The award recognizes undergraduate alumni from the last two decades who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in their careers. Martinez Related Links: ENR New York ENR New York Featured People Parsons Brinckerhoff, New York City, has appointed Kenneth Jackson as systems integration manager in the New York City office. Jackson's responsibilities include managing testing and systems integration for the Second Avenue Subway project. He is a project manager and senior systems engineer and integrator with more than 25

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has unveiled a series of community-driven rebuilding proposals aimed at helping storm-battered cities, towns and villages throughout New York become more resilient. Under the state’s Rising Community Reconstruction Program (NYRCR), eligible communities affected by hurricanes Sandy and Irene as well as Tropical Storm Lee may receive up to $25 million for rebuilding and revitalization efforts. Photo Courtesy of the Governor's Office New York Rising: The program, which was established by Gov. Cuomo in April 2013, received more than 700 rebuilding project proposals. The program, which Cuomo established in April 2013, received more than 700 project proposals, “and

In time for New York City’s April 22 Earth Day celebrations, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced two initiatives related to environmental issues—one focusing on sustainability and resiliency efforts and another concerning air pollution. Photo Courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York Division Cleaning Up: The Army Corps of Engineers headed up beach restoration work on the Rockaway peninsula last fall. The mayor issued a progress report on the city’s PlaNYC guidelines, saying that the Office of Recovery and Resiliency—which he launched last month—will continue the push begun under the Bloomberg Administration for major climate resiliency efforts.Among the