Schenectady

Schenectady's new $23 million Amtrak station opened Wednesday, two weeks ahead of schedule, as Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul touted the building as the latest improvement to the Empire Corridor, the busy passenger rail line running from Manhattan to Buffalo and Niagara Falls.

"This telegraphs to the world that we're prepared for the future," Hochul told a crowd gathered for Wednesday morning's ribbon cutting. Trains would begin using the station later in the day.

The project overcame some hurdles, including an early request for bids that brought just one, from Jersen Construction of Waterford, that came in $10 million over the $12 million to $15 million initial estimated cost of the project.

The state Department of Transportation then broke the project into two phases.

The first phase -- for demolition of the existing station, plus platform concrete work and new culverts -- was awarded to the low bidder, Latham-based Bette & Cring, at $5,409,091. Three bids were received.

Murnane Building Contractors of Plattsburgh was awarded the contract for the second phase with a bid of $10,425,900, besting the only other bidder, Jersen, which submitted a bid for $11,383,000.

And while the rebidding pushed the anticipated completion date back to November, in the end contractors beat that target by two weeks.

Workers on Tuesday went through a "punch list" to ensure that the project had been completed to contract specifications. Public officials were notified to be at the station at 10 a.m. Wednesday, but weren't told what the announcement might be.

The new station is the latest along the busy rail corridor. Rensselaer received a new station in 2002. Niagara Falls' new station opened in 2016, and Rochester's new station opened last autumn.

State officials are working on a new station to replace Buffalo's Exchange Street building.

The new Schenectady station includes tall arched windows and other architectural elements intended to echo Schenectady Union Station, which was built in 1908 and demolished in 1971.

Schenectady was without train service until Amtrak built a new downtown station in 1979. In the meantime, trains stopped at a small station off Route 155 in Colonie.

Of the $23 million cost, the state paid $17 million for construction costs and $2 million for engineering services and other project costs. The Federal Railroad Administration provided another $3.6 million, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office. Amtrak provided $220,000 toward the passenger information display system, while Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority provided $48,000 for parking lot improvements.

The station is the latest in $181 million in Empire Corridor improvements, Hochul said.

"I want to send my sincerest congratulations to the City of Schenectady and Mayor Gary McCarthy on the opening of their beautiful new train station. I'm proud to have secured over $10 million in federal dollars over this decade-long venture to bring us to today,"said U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer. "This, combined with the over $155 million of federal funding to construct the second track from Schenectady to Albany, install the lifesaving Positive Train Control technology and improve rail service throughout the Capital Region, gives Schenectady rail passengers the best and safest service in over half a century."

Amtrak trains have been using a temporary station, basically a bus shelter, at the site while the new building was constructed.

"We've got a lot more infrastructure to do," said U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko during the station opening ceremony. "This is an inspiration."