Forum hears how green is color of the future.

Environmental awareness. Collaboration between businesses, builders and residents. Working in partnerships. These were the key terms emerging from "Rebuilding Lower Manhattan's Transportation Network," a panel discussion presented by Professional Women in Construction at a morning breakfast on October 20, at the Mechanics Institute.

The presentation began with a moment of silence for those who died on 9/11 requested by moderator Diana C. Mendes, AICP, vice president, director of project development, DMJM + HARRIS, Inc. Mendes noted, "our work is in honor of those who are no longer with us."

In part because of the unique nature of the site, the rebuilding effort is placing special emphasis on "fostering quality that will take us into future centuries."

Veronique Hakim, vice president & general counsel, MTA Capital Construction, said, "We need to coordinate our efforts with the project sponsors, the business community, contractors and residents."

Capital Construction's single focus is "expanding the transportation network of the MTA." Hakim outlined two major fast track projects for lower Manhattan. The Fulton Street Transit Center is a $750 million design/build project that promises to create a new above ground transit facility and bring order to the current chaos by vastly improving access and connections to 12 subway lines. It will connect NYC 

Transit with PATH service and the World Trade Center site and be built using green design principles consistent with agreed to environmental performance commitments. The new South Ferry terminal, which will be located below Peter Minuit Plaza, adjacent to Battery Park and the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, will supply good conductivity to the R and W lines. A third project, currently in the initial planning phase, is a rail link connecting lower Manhattan to JFK airport. The $400 million project is scheduled for 2005 to 2009.

Hakim said that the MTA encourages participation of W/MBEs (women and minority owned enterprises) and will be working with Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) to involve more women in the construction trades.

Amy Peterson, P.E., senior VP, memorial, cultural & civic development with the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. (LMDC), explained that the LMDC was created in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001 by Gov. Pataki and then-Mayor Giuliani to help plan and coordinate the rebuilding and revitalization of Lower Manhattan, defined as everything south of Houston Street.