Tidal Street Flooding Update

On September 10, 2010, Ms. Alexandra Rosa, Chief of Staff, Office of the Queens Borough President advised that her office has been n contact with the Mayor's Office of Conracts "...which offered to set up an action group to move this project along while we continue to push for an emergency declaration."

Additionally, Chief of Staff Rosas requested that the City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) provide our association with:

the current status of this Capital Project Initiative (CPI),

and,

a written timeine with milestones for the project.

Earlier today, the association received the following email advisory from Mr. Tony Pollio, Borough Director,

Queens South Program Management, DDC.

"Survey work is underway and expected to be completed by mid November.  In response to our Request For Proposals from design consultants we received 8 proposals and they are being reviewed.  We project selection of a design consultant in October or November 2010 followed by award of  the design contract and then registration with the comptroller.  As stated by me at the August 11th meeting at Queens Borough Hall, the project schedule calls for design to start January 2011, design completion by January 2012 and construction to start by the summer or fall of 2012."

Both Ms. Rosa's and Mr. Pollio's emails clearly indicate that nothing has changed since our meeting with the Queens Borough President's office on August 11, 2010. 

The present status of this project remains unchanged without benefit of an "emergency declaration" for work to start on West 12th Road by July 2011 as previously promised by DOT Borough Commisioner Maura McCarthy back on May 14, 2010.  Indeed, the project "start work" date remains delayed by more than 12 months. 

Although the Queens Borough President's Chief of Staff advised that the Mayor's Offce of Contracts had "offered to set up an action group to move this project along...", we have neither been made aware of the establishment or composition of any such group nor have we been advised as to exacly how such an "action group" would serve to "move this project along."

Ms. Rosa's email of September 10, 2010 also lacked specificity regarding exactly what efforts have been/are being made to obtain the much needed "emergency declaration" for work to start on West 12th Road in a  more timely manner.

Committee members will be meeting later this evening to discuss this matter and we will be pushing for another scheduled meeting of the project task force with city officials an agency staff in the immediate future.

We will keep you advised.