Sunday, March 31, 2019

CROTON POINT AVE. MILLION DOLLAR BIKE LANE, "IMPROVEMENTS", WHERE IT STANDS AS OF 3/31/19, BIDS IN

On 3/18, the project was a Board of Trustees meeting agenda item.  Village Engineer Dan O'Connor gave a brief presentation, short on details:

--Six residents spoke in favor of the project: One was former Democratic trustee Ian Murtaugh; two were the spouses of former Democratic trustees; three were from the Bicycle Pedestrian Committee
--Affected area business owners were in attendance but did not speak.

--The bids for this project were due on 3/30.

Although the bids had not yet been received, a public meeting to discuss what residents/commuters could expect during the project was set for early April. It was cancelled when the bids came in on 3/30

Two bids were received, far in excess--once again--of repeated predictions:

--Reportedly Billotta Bros. bid $2.9 million and Monsanto Bros. bid $4.2 million.

--The bids are going to be rejected by a resolution of the Croton Board of Trustees on Monday night 4/1/19

(Note: The bids are an indication of the current status, but it is common for there to be change orders once the project starts, and the ultimate cost may be significantly higher than the initial contract award.)

ADDITIONALLY:

--Note that Croton has already spent $600,000 on CPA. Therefore the cost using the 2 bids would be in the range of $3.5 million to $4.8 million. The Board of Trustees said this could be done for a fraction of that amount, but people not connected to the village always said this project would cost $3 to $5 million (and some higher)....Just as with Gouveia Park and other democrat-led projects throughout the years....


--Going forward, the Village intends to analyze its various options and potentially rebid the project for a spring 2020 start time.

--It is unknown if--when--the village will have to return the $600,000--if the project does not proceed--at this time. 

UPDATED, APRIL 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FROM THE GAZETTE--THE LATEST ON THE CROTON POINT AVENUE "IMPROVEMENTS"/BIKE LANE PROJECT DEBACLE:
****TIME TO RE-THINK THE CROTON POINT AVENUE PROJECT, an important letter from Paul Steinberg; MORE HERE
****LET'S STOP THROWING GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD, an important letter from Rob Armanini; MORE HERE

2 comments:

  1. The board should be clear during the 4/1 session how it intends to proceed. If they simply intend to re-bid the project with the hope that there will be more (and lower) bids, that won't be acceptable. They should work under the assumption that the project will cost at least $2.5 - $3 million.

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  2. Looks like it is dead for now. I'm sure a lot of people are relieved although their attorneys might be disappointed!

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