Senator Montgomery and 6 Senate colleagues advocate for design-build authorization for the reconstruction of the 1.5-mile stretch from Atlantic Avenue to Sands Street of the BQE be included in the Senate One-House Budget

Senator Velmanette Montgomery joins Senator Bria Kavanagh, Senator Martin Malave Dilan, Senator Jesse Hamilton, Senator Kevin Parker, Senator Roxanne Persaud and Senator Diana Savino to advocate that design-build authorization for the reconstruction of the 1.5-mile stretch from Atlantic Avenue to Sands Street of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE) be included in the Senate’s One-House Budget for Fiscal Year 2019.

By authorizing New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) to use design-build for this project, the State would save taxpayers over $100 million and shave two years from the projected construction timeline. The City's proposal would also make design-build contracts subject to federal, state, and local requirements for minority and women-owned business enterprises, including the Mayor's new citywide goal of 30% participation.

Earlier this year, a bipartisan group of 19 Senators and Assemblymembers representing neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Staten Island sent a letter to Governor Cuomo describing the urgent need for design-build authorization for this project, and requesting that it be included in the Executive Budget. The Governor’s office stated his support for design-build for the BQE in a letter released on March 5. 

In addition to local residents, design-build for this project is supported by:

• New York Building Congress AAA Northeast
• Trucking Association of New York Partnership for New York City Community Board 2
• Community Board 6
• Brooklyn Heights Association
• Downtown Brooklyn Partnership
• Willowtown Association
• Cobble Hill Association
• Atlantic Avenue BID
• DUMBO BID
• DUMBO Neighborhood Alliance
• Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
• Brooklyn Bridge Park Community Advisory Council Boerum Hill Association
• CHIPS (Christian Help in Park Slope) Food Pantry 

To read the full letter, download the PDF.

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