Senator Cogdill Honored for Efforts to Improve California’s Investment in Infrastructure

Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto) today received an award from the Design Build Institute of America, Western Pacific Region (DBIA WPR) for his legislative achievements to reduce barriers to California’s infrastructure improvements.

Last year as a part of the budget, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation authored by Senator Cogdill, Senate Bill X2 4, which expedites and lowers the cost of infrastructure projects by allowing public-private partnerships and design-build authority.

“Investing in the infrastructure needs of our growing state lies at the core of California’s economic recovery. The expansion of design-build and public private partnerships will improve our infrastructure at the greatest value to our taxpayers. Most importantly, these tools will also immediately get more people to work in the construction industry – a sector of our economy hardest hit by the economic slowdown,” said Senator Cogdill. “I am honored to receive this award from the Design Build Institute of America and I thank them for their continued leadership in creating jobs and rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure.”

“It is a tribute to the legislative leaders that they recognize better design and construction processes where the procurements are made for best value. This keeps the projects on schedule and within budgets,” said Praful Kulkarni, of gkkworks and DBIA WPR President.

According to the Department of Finance, over the next two decades our state will need more than $500 billion worth of infrastructure. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that a $1 billion investment in our roadways creates 30,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly.

“It is an honor to be able to acknowledge the efforts of Senator Cogdill’s leadership in providing California a project delivery method that offers higher quality construction with better schedule results in a more cost effective manner," said Eric Kisshauer, of Pankow Builders and DBIA WPR Secretary.

“It’s motivating to see people prepared to authorize a delivery method that has the ability to save 6 percent of our capital budget, deliver facilities in one third less time and provide higher owner satisfaction than traditional methods,” said Victor Sanvido, of Southland Industries and DBIA Legislative Committee Member.

DBIA is a membership organization founded to advocate and advance single source project delivery within the design and construction community. The design-build method of project delivery embraces architecture, engineering and construction services under a single contract, thereby re-integrating the roles of designer and constructor. In addition to public- and private-sector project owners, DBIA members include practitioners from all project phases.