Federal funding advances stormwater improvement planning in New Rochelle, N.Y.

U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced the delivery of $1.5 million in federal funding to support design and planning for stormwater improvements in New Rochelle, New York. The funding, included in the Fiscal Year 2026 spending bill, will help the city advance plans for drainage upgrades at Kewanee Road and Stratton Road, a flood-prone area along the Sheldrake River.

The Sheldrake River Stormwater Improvements project includes preliminary design and engineering for a new culvert, upgraded drain pipes, and additional catch basins aimed at reducing roadway and neighborhood flooding during heavy rainfall events. The funding will be delivered through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and builds on authorization secured in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024.

“For years, New Rochelle’s neighborhoods have suffered from flooding during storms,” said Senator Schumer in a press release. “I am proud to deliver $1.5 million in federal funding so New Rochelle can make plans to improve its stormwater infrastructure.”

Senator Gillibrand emphasized the urgency of flood resilience investments as extreme weather increases. “As severe storms and floods become more frequent, it is essential that New York’s infrastructure can keep up,” she said.

New Rochelle Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert said the funding will support design and planning to “reduce roadway flooding and enhance resilience in surrounding residential neighborhoods,” while positioning the city to pursue additional funding for construction as part of its broader flood mitigation program.

City officials noted that the project will focus on alleviating recurring flooding impacts, improving storm resilience, and supporting safer transportation and emergency response in the affected area.