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Nassau board warns village share of Route 203 sidewalk could jump to about $2 million
Summary
Board members said a TAP-funded Route 203 sidewalk application from 2021 faces sharp cost increases and a state right-of-way requirement that could force the village to pay as much as $2 million of the revised total; trustees authorized an updated outside estimate paid from the engineering line.
Nassau village board members heard an extended update on a TAP-funded Route 203 sidewalk project that was submitted in July 2021 and learned the village’s potential cost share could rise sharply because of construction-price increases and separate water-line work.
Chair said the original application estimated total project costs at about $3,070,000, with the village expected to cover $614,001.91. He told trustees that by 2024 construction costs alone were being quoted near $3.5 million, with another $935,000 for preliminary and final design and construction inspection, producing a much larger total and leaving the village with a potentially much higher share. “So the cost of the project was estimated at that time to be about $3,070,000,” Chair said. He also cautioned that the TAP award “does not cover the waterline,” and that water-line replacement would be paid from the village’s water fund.
Trustees discussed a separate and consequential condition flagged by state DOT staff: the state says it lacks sufficient right-of-way along Route 203 and is requiring signed easements from every affected residence before it will proceed or reimburse acquisition costs. Chair summarized DOT’s position: “they are telling us that we, before they will proceed with the project and get and give us money to do this project, we have to get a right away from all of the residents on the street that’s involved.” Board members said collecting dozens of easements from owners — and conducting title work to determine current ownership — could be costly and time-consuming.
The board considered options including using eminent domain (an expensive route that, if used, the state would reimburse about 80% of acquisition costs) or reapplying for a larger TAP award that could include right-of-way acquisition. Chair said the village’s engineering consultant had offered to prepare a reapplication for free but cautioned there is no guarantee of success. To move forward with better cost certainty, trustees voted to secure an updated outside cost estimate using the 2019 bid documents and to pay for that estimate from the engineering budget line; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.
