Harrisburg, Pa (Enero 28, 2025) – The Borough of Oxford was awarded state funding to develop rain garden bump-outs to better manage stormwater runoff, calm traffic, and beautify a roadway that is due for repaving, state Senator Carolyn Comitta said.

The funding, approved today by the Commonwealth Financing Agency, will support the construction of three, 45-foot bioretention bumps-outs on the north side of East Mt. Vernon Street. These basins will be able to capture a total of approximately 1,627 cubic feet of stormwater – equivalent to the runoff generated from approximately 0.5 inches of rain over the entire one-acre impervious area within the drainage area.

Comitta, who serves as minority chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and on the Local Government Committee, supported the borough’s successful application for $100,000 in grant funding.

“As a former mayor, I’ve seen firsthand just how effective and environmentally friendly these rain-garden bump-outs can be in managing stormwater runoff in both downtown and residential neighborhoods,” Comitta said. “I commend Oxford Borough Council and its staff for doing their due diligence in developing innovative solutions to prevent flooding, reduce pollution from runoff, calm traffic, and keep the borough looking beautiful.”

“This award will enable us to construct three rain garden bump outs along Mt. Vernon Street in the Borough,” said Kathryn Cloyd, Council President, “adding much needed green stormwater infrastructure and helping to slow down vehicles, making Mt. Vernon safer for motorists and pedestrians.”

The bump-outs are expected to address runoff from a drainage area that includes half of East Mt. Vernon Street and a few acres of land north of the street. The project calls for removing the existing sidewalk, grass median, and asphalt before excavating the subgrade, placing aggregate, and bioretention soils within the excavated area, planting the bioretention area, and installing new concrete sidewalks.

In addition, the Mt. Vernon project plans to use a “dig once” strategy that will also include structural repair and repaving of the street, replacement of a water main, and any necessary upgrades to public utilities.

In 2022, the Borough was awarded a $150,000 grant through the PA Department of Community and Economic Development’s Multimodal Transportation Fund Program to support the project’s related road improvements. In 2023, the Borough was awarded a $22,000 grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns program to support the cost of final design and engineering of the bump-outs.

Comitta also commended borough leaders for working to help restore local watersheds and improve water quality, as Oxford is home to four different watersheds, all of which flow into the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

“Stormwater runoff is a leading source of water impairment in the Commonwealth. As we face increased rainfall and impacts related to climate change, it’s vital that local leaders and partners work together to develop proactive and creative solutions,” she said.

Work is expected to take place this year and completion of the project will help the borough meet its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) regulatory requirements.

The project was funded by Act 13 of 2012 (the Marcellus Legacy Fund), which supports stream restoration and maintenance, as well as the planning and development of recreational trails, open space, parks, flood mitigation, watershed restoration, and beautification projects.