Design-build OK eyed for city bids

THE STATE is suggesting the city seek design-build authority on a project-byproject basis — saying it’d support efforts to use the streamlined process to rebuild a portion of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, create new jails to replace Rikers Island and fix up public housing, according to a letter obtained by the Daily News.

The proposal is one of several outlined by Gov. Cuomo’s counsel Alphonso David (photo) in a letter to City Council Speaker Corey Johnson ahead of the state’s budget deadline on April 1 and the end of its legislative session in June.

Backers of design-build say it speeds up the process and reduces costs by combining the planning and construction phases of capital projects — and Cuomo has touted its successful use in rebuilding the Tappan Zee Bridge.

The city has been seeking permission from Albany to use it for all capital projects — but in the letter, David argued that has been met with displeasure in the Legislature. He said efforts to expand it to New York City, to all local governments and to all of his own executive agencies have been blocked by lawmakers.

David said the city would have the “highest likelihood of legislative success” by seeking design-build approval on a case-by-case basis — starting with rebuilding a portion of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.