October 23, 2017 

ELMIRA, NY (WENY) -- Earlier this month, bids for Phase 1 of the nearly $60 million Elmira-Corning Regional Airport reconstruction project were all rejected after coming in too high above budget. Phase 1 entails the revitalization of the curtain wall, storefront and glazing construction.

"$6.9 million was the prior bid and the second low on the last one was $9.7 million so we're talking considerable savings," says Bill Hopper, Director of Aviation at the Elmira-Corning Regional Airport. 

Those savings are coming because the airport went out to re-bid. On Monday, the Chemung County Legislature held a special meeting to award Streeter and Associates with the project. 

Hopper says that company's bid came in just shy of $4.7 million. With savings of more than $2 million, there are some changes to the design scope. 

"It's more how the glass is placed. It's more that you're going to have seams in-between the glass whereas before the glass would have been almost invisible. Very minor - you wouldn't really notice it but very significant when it comes to getting the supplies and getting the contractors on board," Hopper explains. 

He also says that the aggressive timeline for finishing the project is slightly behind due to having to re-bid, but there are plans to make-up the difference down the road. 

Another notable move: During Monday's Aviation Committee meeting, officials proposed a new Local Law relative to commercial ground operators, such as taxis, Uber and Lyft. 

"We're having trouble getting Uber to come to the table so we want to put an ordinance in there to make sure everybody is on the same level playing field and that anybody who does not have an agreement with the airport, that we're able to have some sort of enforcement so that either they come to the table or they don't operate at the airport," says Hopper.

As WENY News previously reported (see "Related Story" below), Lyft came to a one-year agreement with the airport to pay $2.00 to the county to pick up passengers. 
 
A public hearing on that agreement will be held on November 6th at 6:50 p.m. at the Hazlett Building. 

To view the proposed Local Law click here and go to page 4: file:///C:/Users/igarcia.WENY/Downloads/Agenda_Meeting%20(26).pdf