"No state or region stands to benefit more than New York, which relies on its vast infrastructure network to meet the needs of a growing population and the nation's largest economic engine," says NYBC president Richard T. Anderson in a release. "Pointing out need won't be enough, however. The situation is dire and calls for something other than a typical 'business-as-usual' approach in New York, where critical infrastructure projects can be delayed for years and even decades by bureaucracy, political inertia and needless delay." As an example, the position paper cites the Moynihan Station plan, still in limbo 16 years after it was first proposed.

In its position paper, NYBC calls on Paterson and Bloomberg to establish high-level task forces that will draw input from close advisors, state and city agency heads, the state and city comptrollers, the state legislature and City Council. According to NYBC, the task forces would quickly create a short-list of potential stimulus projects, examine the current status of each and identify all remaining regulatory approvals, procurement matters or other issues that must be addressed.

"Many critical questions remain unanswered," the position paper states. "For instance, have we determined which projects provide the most bang for the buck? Should we focus on unfunded projects that have not yet started or augment projects already in the pipeline, such as the No. 7 subway line extension and the Fulton Street Transit Center? How much should be used to fill a $4-billion dollar gap in the School Construction Authority budget or to modernize the region's electric grid?"