Engineering and public works warn stormwater mandates and aging infrastructure are driving capital requests
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Summary
Town engineers and public works officials told council members the 2025 capital budget focuses on road resurfacing, drainage repairs, culvert replacement and new stormwater mapping and inspection requirements imposed by the state.
Justin Meza, acting township engineer and acting DPW director, and department leaders told the Township Council the bulk of planned capital spending supports road resurfacing, major culvert replacements and expanded stormwater compliance work.
Meza said the township typically budgets $2 million to $3 million per year for resurfacing and that larger multi-year projects add curb, drainage and sanitary sewer work where needed. He described a high-cost culvert replacement on Sylvan Way and a corroded corrugated metal culvert in the Hills of Troy with an estimated replacement cost of about $1.7 million.
The council heard that the state’s stormwater requirements are increasing and now require mapping and inspection of outfalls and detention basins. Meza said the township has more than 277 detention basins that will need inspection and annual reporting under the new requirements and that the engineering division has requested state grant funds to help start initial mapping work.
Public works officials described investments in additional jet-vac equipment and a second crew to clean more than 6,000 catch basins, a priority as the township grows. Road division staff also asked for additional asphalt crew hires to reduce competing assignments (for example, pulling crews for water-main breaks) and noted planned purchases including loaders, a hook-lift truck and a trailer for excavators.
Council members and staff discussed coordination with other utilities during projects and the six-year capital plan used to prioritize streets; officials said widening many roadways is not feasible in built-up areas, so work focuses on maintaining pavement, coordinating utility replacements and improving traffic signal coordination.
No formal action was taken at the presentation; staff requested continued capital appropriations and said they will pursue available DOT and DEP grants where eligible.
