Committee previews $1.15 million 2026 CIP: paving run, phased parks work and equipment purchases

The Narberth Infrastructure Committee reviewed the borough’s proposed 2026 capital improvement program (CIP) on Oct. 28, which staff estimated at about $1.15 million after scope adjustments.

Speaker 3 summarized the paving proposal, a roughly 0.6-mile program including Conway Avenue and Stewart Avenue; some streets were omitted because storm-sewer repairs must precede repaving. "If you all approve this paving program, then council will approve it in November," Speaker 3 said; staff would then mail notices to affected residents in early 2026.

Speaker 4 reviewed other high-ticket CIP items: an elevator replacement anticipated around $135,000 (possibly up to $150,000), camera-security work reduced from an initial $45,000 estimate to about $10,000 pending grant funding, portable radio replacement (~$16,000), and a $12,000 leaf-vacuum attachment to save labor. Vehicle purchases include prepaying an EV police vehicle to reduce interest and a planned dump-truck chassis purchase (~$77,000) with final upfit payment expected in early 2027 after a 58-week production cycle; staff expect to recoup some cost by auctioning the 2014 truck (estimated $25,000+).

Parks work will be phased to address immediate safety concerns: staff recommended removing failing white pines grown into the outfield bleachers, dismantling and scrapping the outfield bleachers, regrading and seeding a "sitting lawn" this year, then pursuing infield bleacher replacement and a walkway in future phases. Speaker 4 said the borough would coordinate with the Narberth Athletic Association and local fundraising partners for later phases. "We're anticipating that that'll bring that capital cost down to about $30,000," Speaker 4 said of the scaled-back initial phase.

Staff also briefed the committee on the Elmwood Avenue branch project: scoping and preliminary engineering are underway, with design work targeted by mid-February to support a March grant application. Staff estimated the project cost at about $400,000 split over two years and said most grants reimburse construction costs (not preliminary engineering), so timing and phasing will depend on award decisions expected in the fall.

Committee members discussed procurement approaches for the sewer lining work and equipment contingency budgeting—staff emphasized unit pricing in contracts to avoid emergency cost escalation if excavation and replacement become necessary. The committee did not make final appropriations but agreed to forward the paving program and related CIP items to council for approval and to continue phasing and grant pursuit.