Command Center created to coordinate rebuilding.

Governor George E. Pataki and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced the creation of the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center last week. The Command Center is charged with coordinating all of the construction projects in lower Manhattan to meet the ambitious rebuilding timeline, while minimizing the impact of such construction activity on the community.

"Downtown's large-scale rebuilding effort includes private developers, utilities, Federal, State, and City entities and these unprecedented partnerships will create unparalleled progress," Governor Pataki said. "The creation of the Construction Command Center will ensure that business downtown will continue uninterrupted as the rebuilding and revitalization of lower Manhattan kicks into high gear. The Command Center will also be an important resource for the area's residential and visitor community, to minimize inconvenience and keep them informed of the status of the construction projects. Thanks to a shared vision with Mayor Bloomberg, the rebuilding will continue safely and cause minimal disruption in lower Manhattan."

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said, "We are committed to moving forward as quickly and as safely as possible as we rebuild lower Manhattan--a massive undertaking that will add thousands of construction related jobs to New York City's economy each year over the next 10 years. The Construction Command Center will assist us in coordinating construction projects that will be occurring simultaneously, minimizing disruptions for residents, workers and businesses, and it will serve as a one-stop shop providing them with essential information on the progress of those projects. I want to thank Governor Pataki and our partners at all levels of government for working collaboratively to find solutions as lower Manhattan's dynamic recovery continues."

The Governor and Mayor have signed joint City-State executive orders creating the Command Center, which will bring together private developers, public agencies, utilities, businesses and residents in one operation to coordinate billions of dollars in construction.

In addition to establishing a master schedule for all lower Manhattan construction projects, the Command Center will:

Ensure access to residential and business areas;

Ensure that the lower Manhattan area remains neat, clean and orderly throughout construction;

Ensure fraud prevention through the creation of a fraud prevention hotline and coordination with each agency's Office of Inspector General;

Coordinate contract requirements and protocols for environmental protection and compliance with environmental performance commitments;

Ensure minority and women-owned business and worker participation in the rebuilding efforts;

And communicate and reach out to residents, businesses and the general public, providing a central focus on issues critical to the local community.

The Command Center staff will include an executive director, a communications director, a fraud prevention director and director of City operations who will ensure the quality of life for residents and businesses of lower Manhattan. The executive director will work with the Lower Manhattan Construction Executive Committee, which will include senior management of all applicable state and city agencies.

The Commend Center will coordinate between high level construction personnel from the key participants in the rebuilding process, including the New York City Department of Transportation, the New York City Department of Design and Construction, the New York City Economic Development Corporation and others.