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Engineer links heavy flooding to debris in railroad ditch, says Conrail exempt from municipal storm permit
Summary
An engineer told the Wenonah council that a recent intense rainstorm flooded parts of town and that debris in a ditch adjacent to the railroad—maintained by Conrail—blocked storm sewers; he said Conrail is not subject to the borough's municipal stormwater permit requirements and that the borough has pursued remediation with Conrail and DEP.
Wenonah's borough engineer reported to the council that a major rainstorm caused widespread flooding across town and that debris in a railroad-adjacent ditch contributed to storm-sewer backups.
"That rain was so hard that there's no storm sewer system that would be able to handle that amount of runoff," the engineer said, describing water at times "at least a foot deep" along Southeast Avenue and nearby streets. He said debris in the ditch next to the railroad is blocking pipes at Willow Street and warned that another heavy rain could cause further flooding.
The engineer told the council that Conrail maintains the railroad-adjacent ditch and that, in his understanding and after consulting the DEP, Conrail is not subject to the borough's municipal stormwater permit requirements. He said the borough has repeatedly asked Conrail to clear the ditch and will continue to press the issue; the mayor said she would raise the problem with the mayor's association so other municipalities can push for coordinated action.
The engineer also discussed long-term roadway plans—identifying Parkers Road, Linden Avenue and Midland Street as priorities—and said work on Linden Avenue may require interlocal agreements and utility coordination before paving can occur.
