'Planes, trains & autos' discussed by PWC.

"The focus today is on the 'total trip concept,'" said William Fife, corporate vice president with DMJM + HARRIS, Inc., and moderator of "Planes, Trains & Autos," a breakfast seminar presented by Professional Women in Construction (PWC) on July 25 at The Yale Club in New York City. While acknowledging the "new reality" of the post 9/11 world and its emphasis on security, Fife applauded the "exciting ideas" currently planned and implemented.

"Positive thinking has survived, and with it, new opportunities in construction and design for air, rail and road transportation," said PWC president Lenore Janis following the program.

Stephen Smolenski, PE, director JFK Redevelopment Program, Port Authority of NY & NJ, said that his objective is to "ensure that Kennedy International Airport meets the demands of the 21st century," then noted that those demands were forever altered last year.

Passenger travel decreased by 10% in 2001, and would have declined by 17% without the success of JetBlue.

With security the top priority, over $1 billion in contracts have been awarded to carry out the mandates of the newly created Transportation Security Administration. The "monumental" assignment of passenger and 100% checked baggage requires an estimated screener work force of 63,000 and over 7,000 machines.

While United has cancelled its terminal and Delta's plans are on hold, American Airlines' 55-gate megaterminal, with DMJM + HARRIS as architect, is staying on course. Other projects include the International Arrivals Terminal, scheduled for completion in November, the expansion of the British Airways Terminal, an E-Z pass payment option for parking at JFK, new parking structures at American Airlines and JetBlue, a makeover of the vacant TWA Saarinen Building, and a new terminal for JetBlue.

Smolenski said that almost $300 million, or 23% of the Port Authority's Aviation Department and airport tenants' contracts went to M/WBEs in 2001, "and I'd call that a success." The Authority's business resource centers provide assistance and information to M/WBEs on job opportunities and certification. "The bottom line is, get certified," he said.

Kenneth J. Bauer, president of MTA Long Island Rail Road, spoke of East Side access, a plan to link the LIRR to Grand Central Station through "a mile of tunnel on the Queens side and another mile in Manhattan," reducing the commute of 76,000 by 20 to 30 minutes a day when completed in 2012.

The "transformation" of the Flatbush Terminal at Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, and the AirTrain/Jamaica Station Reconstruction project should be completed in 2005. The AirTrain, a light-rail shuttle between the LIRR and JFK that will take 12 minutes and make the total commute 45 minutes, should be "ready to roll next year." The finished project will leave passengers with "a beautifully modern, fully functional, intermodal transportation hub in the middle of Jamaica," said Bauer.

All MTA LIRR construction jobs over $15,000 are posted in the Contract Reporter and on the State's website, said Bauer, inviting all to join the bidding process.

Douglas Currey, regional director (Region 11) for the New York State Department of Transportation's (NYSDOT) New York City office, oversees a $350 million per year capital letting program on the city's arterial system as well as $1 billion of ongoing highway and bridge work, 50% of which is spent rehabilitating 23 million SF of bridges.

Currey outlined current projects on the Queens Midtown viaduct; the Bruckner Interchange; the ramp from the Brooklyn Queens Expressway to Williamsburg Bridge; the Northern Boulevard Interchange; the HOV lanes on the LIE and Cross Island Interchange; and the FDR Drive. The NYSDOT is taking such environmental initiatives as adding bikeways and walkways, and is involved in various historic restoration projects.

"Post 9/11 issues" include realigning the West Side Highway as the clean-up is completed; a FEMA/FHWA $250 million Emergency Relief project that might depress West Street below grade; making ITS systems redundant; goods movement/truck inspections/emergency routes planing; and landmark surveillance.

Currey invited all qualified businesses to become certified, and to contact his office about DBE programs.

Dave Barger, president and chief operating officer of JetBlue Airways, explained that his airline is determined to "reduce the hassle factor of flying." By doing things differently and listening to its customers, JetBlue has reported six consecutive profitable quarters, in an industry with losses of $2.5 billion, and grown its fleet from two to 28 aircraft since February 2000. JetBlue is now the largest domestic carrier at JFK and the eleventh largest domestic airline in the U.S.

JetBlue has proved that people will travel to JFK to fly domestically and that there is a healthy market for low fares, friendly service and inflight extras such as leather upholstery and free satellite television at every seat.

The Port Authority is in the final stages of programming and conceptual design preparation with William Nicholas Bodouva + associates for a new 17-gate domestic terminal that potentially will be a new home for JetBlue Airways.

PWC will hold a technical assistance workshop, free of charge to current and prospective W/MBEs will be held at The Mechanics Institute from 8 to 10 a.m. on Sept. 18. Call PWC at 212.486.7745 for information.