NYCHA Unveils Online Tracker to Put Lens on Capital Projects Citywide

A closer look at hundreds of projects across NYCHA’s portfolio is now just a few clicks away.  

This week, NYCHA launched a beta version of its public, web-based Capital Projects Tracker, a resource that provides details and status updates for over 500 active and completed capital projects. At the center of the new web page is a navigable city map marked with green dots, showing the scope of NYCHA properties located throughout the five boroughs.   

By narrowing down their search by borough, district, or development, site visitors can access information for a specific capital project, such as a description of the work, timelines for each project phase, budget, location, project staff, as well as a brief update on ongoing activities. The online tracker offers improved transparency to residents and stakeholders on the progress of NYCHA’s capital investments, according to Shaan Mavani, head of NYCHA’s Asset and Capital Management Division, which worked with the Information Technology Department to develop the tracker.  

“People are always looking for better visibility on what projects are ongoing or planned at a development, and where each project is at,” Mr. Mavani explained. “Like our existing trackers for our (Superstorm) Sandy program and our PACT program, this new Capital Projects Tracker provides easier access to up-to-date information, transparency, and stronger accountability for delivery of projects by our teams.”  

Residents can use the tracker to learn more about the type of construction underway at a NYCHA site, how the project is progressing, or when the work can be expected to finish. Among the tracker’s search filters are project status (active or completed) and funding source, such as City, State, or federal.   

“City and State officials, and local community and advocacy groups, can also see details about projects at the broader neighborhood, district, and borough levels, and even what’s happening NYCHA-wide,” Mr. Mavani said.  

Using data supplied by NYCHA’s project management system every two weeks, the tracker reports the latest details for individual projects, although not every single capital project is featured due to data and technical constraints. Some exceptions include projects completed before 2017, planned projects for which funding is not yet available or allocated, emergency projects, and projects that include work at multiple properties.  

In developing the tracker, earlier versions were demonstrated for NYCHA’s Resident Roundtable, the Citywide Council of Presidents (CCOP), and other community groups to test the user interface, experience, and key functionality.  

“It was really great to hear the positive feedback and valuable suggestions from residents and other stakeholders when we demoed earlier versions of the site,” Mr. Mavani said of the demo sessions. 

Feedback from these demonstration sessions was incorporated into the newly unveiled beta version. Mr. Mavani noted that additional user feedback will be incorporated into future releases of the tracker.   

“Bringing greater transparency and accountability for our capital projects work is one of my priorities since taking up my role earlier this year, so I am very excited we could quickly develop and release the tracker,” he said. “In the future, we hope to build on this and bring in capital needs and other information that residents and stakeholders may find useful.”