Council authorizes 2025 street resurfacing bid advertisement; Market Street estimated at $1.25–$1.4 million

The City of Amsterdam authorized advertisement for bids Friday for its 2025 Street Resurfacing Program and discussed using Market Street (from Prospect to Van Dyke) as the base bid for the project.

City Engineer Mike (identified in the meeting transcript) told the council he expects to have bid documents ready to advertise by late next week and gave a preliminary cost estimate for the Market Street segment of approximately $1.25 million to $1.4 million. He said he intentionally estimated on the higher side.

The engineer clarified that Market Street, though carrying a state route number (Route 30) in part, is a city street with maintenance jurisdiction beginning at the top of the ramp bridge and extending to the city line. He said efforts to shift that maintenance responsibility to New York State have been discussed previously but indicated such a transfer would likely be costly for the city.

Council members and staff discussed using Bond Anticipation Notes (short‑term borrowing) to fund construction temporarily and then repay the borrowing with CHIPS funding when state payments are received. The engineer said the city has used that approach in recent years and will likely do so again because contractor invoices can be substantial and arrive before state reimbursement is received.

The council authorized the advertisement for bids (Resolution 2425202). The engineer said he anticipated advertising “not sooner than a week from Friday,” and that staff could modify or pull documents later if CHIPS funding was reduced by the state.

Why it matters

Market Street is identified as a high-priority stretch with significant need; selecting it as the base bid would use most of the preliminary budget estimate but could allow alternate streets to be added if CHIPS funding remains available. The decision to advertise enables the procurement timeline to proceed while leaving the council flexibility to adjust the final scope after bids are received and state funding is confirmed.

Quotes

“Market Street from Prospect to Van Dyke as the base bid for this project,” the city engineer said while describing scope and timing. “I tried to estimate it high. I don't want to be low.”

Next steps

Staff will finalize bid documents, post the advertisement, and return to the council with bid results and any recommended alternate street work depending on available CHIPS funds and bid outcomes.