Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Below are questions and answers regarding the downtown streetscapes design and engineering project:
  1. Q:  Why is the Town undertaking this project?

    A:  Several strategies outlined in the Town's Master Plan (2018) call for encouraging additional investment in the downtown. These strategies include, but are not limited to:

    Economic Development, Strategy 24:
    Invest in infrastructure and streetscaping to enhance the downtown area as a pedestrian friendly economic hub.

    Transportation, Strategy 49:  Hire a consultant to evaluate and recommend possible streetscape improvements along Main Street and Water Street.

  2. Q:  Where does the project currently stand and when will it be complete?

    A:  The Town is currently working with an engineering firm (Green International Affiliates) to develop design construction documents for roadway and streetscape design improvements in the downtown.  As of December 2025, the project is still in a conceptual design development phase, where the Town is seeking feedback from residents, business owners, property owners, and other stakeholders on potential design elements.  No final decisions have been made on the design as of yet.

    The Town anticipates that design documents will be complete with bid specifications prepared by spring of 2027 (subject to change).

    The process to develop streetscape design improvements began in late 2019 / early 2020, with an initial conceptual design and planning process overseen by the Town with another engineering firm (Beta Group).  That phase concluded in June of 2021.  For more information on that portion of the overall project, click here.
  3. Q:  How is this project being funded?

    A:  This phase of the project - design and engineering - is being funded entirely with grants, including a $675,000 grant award from the Commonwealth's MassWorks Infrastructure Grant Program.  No operational or capital funds from the Town are being used.
  4. Q:  Have there been any public meetings about this project?

    A:  Yes.  A public meeting was held on September 25, 2025.  For more information about what was presented and discussed at that meeting, and to view a video of the meeting, click here and scroll down.

    Click here to view video playbacks of public meetings held during the earlier conceptual design process (2019 - 2021).
  5. Q: How much will it cost to construct the improvements that are being designed?

    A:  Because we are still in the early conceptual design phase of a larger design process, the Town does not yet have a firm, or even ballpark estimate of costs.  An estimate provided by Beta Group in an earlier phase of conceptual design planning contemplated an approximately $17.6 million project in 2028 dollars.  This estimate however, did not contemplate full or even partial undergrounding of overhead utility lines or the potential of constructing one or more mini-roundabouts.