Langhorne Gables stormwater project remains priority as township pairs grants to close funding gap

Township officials presented a phased plan to continue stormwater infrastructure work in the Langhorne Gables neighborhood and said grant awards have significantly advanced the project but more funding is needed before construction can begin.

Township engineer Isaac Kessler described the Phase 2 scope: the base bid focuses on Longview Avenue (installing inlets and new storm piping to capture runoff rather than allow it to flow across private properties), and Alternate 1 would address a failing system between Clay and Firr avenues. An Alternate 2 scope for undersized piping on Adams Avenue was deferred as outside the near‑term budget.

Kessler said the project has an awarded grant of $744,000 but the overall plan aims to remain near $1.5 million; staff are seeking additional grants and matching funds. Bidding is expected to begin at the start of the calendar year once matching funds are secured; the construction contract was described as roughly 120 days.

Board members asked for clear neighborhood communications about the work and noted several neighborhoods would benefit when the work is paired with the township’s road program. Kessler and staff said some grant awards have two‑year windows and allow the township enough time to assemble matching funds and move forward in 2025.

The presentation came after a broader grants update from staff listing 13 awards that total more than $2.3 million and several pending applications — including a FEMA SAFER application to help fund five firefighters for three years — which the board said increases capacity to pair grants with capital projects.

No bid award was made tonight; the board and staff discussed next steps to align grant timing and budget planning.