Council to pursue NJIT stormwater study and apply for county and state funds for train-station tunnel
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Summary
Staff presented a no‑cost partnership with NJIT for a 24‑month stormwater hydrology and flood‑mitigation study and said the village will apply for Bergen County and New Jersey Historic Trust grants (matching funds noted) to rehabilitate the Ridgewood Train Station pedestrian tunnel and pursue park improvements.
Village staff told the council on March 30 that the engineering department has submitted a grant application to partner with the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Center for Natural Resources on a stormwater management study. The collaboration would assign one full‑time NJIT engineer to the project for 24 months at no cost to the village, and would include hydrology/hydraulics analysis, engineering recommendations and a benefit‑cost analysis intended to yield implementable flood‑mitigation solutions.
Staff said NJIT’s work will be data‑driven and designed to produce recommendations that are feasible locally. The village also plans to apply for the 2026 Bergen County Trust Fund for Upper Citizens Park (requested $67,320) and for Bergen County and New Jersey Historic Trust capital preservation grants to fund rehabilitation of the pedestrian tunnel at Ridgewood Train Station; staff noted matching‑fund requirements (county match cited at $541,880 and state match also described) and said, if awarded, work could proceed in 2027 when combined with funds already allocated in the 2025 capital budget.
Council members discussed public‑hearing requirements for county grants and staff proposed inviting project leaders to a future meeting so residents can ask questions during the grant‑application process.
No vote was recorded on grant applications at the workshop; staff said county grants will require public hearings advertised for April 22 and that the New Jersey Historic Trust application will be considered at the public meeting on April 8.
