West Goshen Township secured a $500,000 state grant to replace storm sewers in the southern portion of the North Hill subdivision, part of a broader push to upgrade stormwater infrastructure across several neighborhoods.
The grant, awarded through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development's Local Share Account (LSA) program, will fund pipe replacements along Story Road, Collins Drive and Owen Road. The work aims to address flooding on the Route 322 West Chester bypass, according to a press release from state Sen. Carolyn Comitta. The project also calls for replacing 400 feet of piping, extending infrastructure along Owen Road, installing new inlets along Story Road and adding a rain garden.
"These investments will help to protect property and save lives by mitigating flood risks, alerting residents of flood dangers, and improving stormwater runoff management," Comitta said in the September announcement.
The Commonwealth Financing Authority approved the funding as part of $875,000 in LSA grants for three Chester County projects. The LSA program distributes funds derived from gaming revenue.
The township confirmed the award in a Sept. 17 announcement, calling it an identified project from the township's Regional Stormwater Feasibility Study.
North Hill is one piece of a larger stormwater effort. The township's October update outlined work in at least five areas.
In Fresh Meadows, the Public Works Department has finished both pipe replacement and lining work. Snyder Environmental Services handled the lining, while the township's own crew replaced the pipes. The department had already replaced 1,700 feet of corrugated metal pipe in that development as of June, according to an earlier township update.
Canterbury is further behind. Lining work by Snyder Environmental is done, but the township crew is still completing pipe replacement, according to the township's October stormwater update. The West Goshen Board of Supervisors approved proposals from Snyder Environmental for both developments at its April 23 meeting.
On Basin Road, a streambank restoration project awarded to James R. Kenny Excavating & Paving on July 21 has been substantially completed. The township is also planning a flood mitigation project on township-owned land behind the Aldi grocery store and plans to submit a Growing Greener grant application for that work.
More grant applications are in the pipeline. The township submitted a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application to Chester County for storm sewer improvements in the Chatwood neighborhood. The township said it hoped to hear back on that application in the fall. No decision has been announced publicly.
The township also plans to submit a second LSA application for storm sewer work in the Oakhill development, with a decision expected in eight to 12 months.
