Black Diamond Trail

Progress Update, Dec. 3, 2008

Update on progress–From Jeff McDonald, Capital Facilities Manager, NYS-Fingerlakes Parks, via email dated Dec. 3, 2008, in response to BDTEN’s request for information:

“Sorry – not much good news, and things have been changing pretty rapidly
the last few weeks.

I’m waiting for the consultant to deliver the final copies of the
reports on the bridge designs – these aren’t the construction documents,
but set the basis for the actual designs. The budget situation is bad -
no new consultant work is being approved unless it’s health and safety
based, which means the bridge designs won’t progress until the budget
situation changes. All contracts are being reviewed by the Division of
Budget, so the control over what progresses is now outside of the
agencies. At this time, it is very likely that the only contract that
the region moves to construction next year will be the Taughannock Falls
water system. We are dealing with the same limitations on general
purchasing – only spending enough to keep the crews working, and only on
ongoing projects. The region most likely won’t be able to buy materials
for the BDT this year, even just some culverts. I am guessing we will
see some further changes to the spending rules in January, when the
newly elected take their seats, but I have no guess as to whether they
will be positive or negative.

About the only bright spot I can think of is the growing number of
arguments for making infrastructure improvements a major portion of any
economic stimulus program. If the feds turn some money over to that
state, as is being discussed, we may get a piece of it.

Jeff “