Contractors warn of losses under APS contract; DOT says installations are ahead of court‑required pace

Contractors and trade associations told the committee the Department of Transportation's current contract for furnishing and installing Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) has caused financial strain and operational confusion and should be rebid rather than renewed at current rates.

Representatives of the Building Trades Employers Association and the New York Electrical Contractors Association testified that the APS contract issued in 2023 was based on inaccurate estimates and an ill‑defined scope, leaving installation firms to absorb escalating costs. “Contractors were asked to design APS intersections without clear standards or consistent guidance, forcing them to make assumptions that have proven costly and unworkable,” Peter Riccino of the New York Electrical Contractors Association said. He and other witnesses said DOT inspections have been delayed or inconsistent, and that unit pricing and measurement disputes have created unrecoverable losses for contractors.

The Building Trade Employers Association urged DOT not to exercise unilateral renewal rights on the current contract and instead to issue a new solicitation that reflects current compliance requirements and true costs, saying a new procurement would give bidders clarity about scope and unit prices.

DOT officials responded that traffic operations has been installing APS devices at or ahead of court‑mandated rates and that the department intends to put future APS work into new procurement cycles. “Our APS team in traffic operations has been installing more APSs than where we're required as part of the court settlement,” DOT officials told the committee, and the agency said it is streamlining internal processes to support contractors and meet rising goals.

Council members asked DOT to confirm whether unit prices remain fair in light of market changes and whether inspection and permit procedures can be strengthened to reduce contractor risk. DOT acknowledged receipt of contractor complaints and said the agency uses pre‑bid conferences and question‑and‑answer periods in solicitations to clarify scope and that future contracts are expected to be reissued with updated specifications where appropriate.

Ending — Next steps: Contractors requested a timely rebid reflecting current market conditions and clearer inspection procedures; DOT said it will review contract terms, continue outreach with contractors, and proceed with procuring work under updated solicitations when appropriate. No formal action was taken at the hearing.