The Abington Department of Public Works keeps the town running…both above and below ground. From maintaining roads, sidewalks, and bridges to caring for parks, fields, and public lands, the DPW ensures our community stays safe, clean, and accessible year-round. They also manage the Town's sewer system and stormwater infrastructure, providing cost-effective, environmentally responsible services that enhance daily life for residents. Whether plowing snow, mowing fields, repairing streetlights, or safeguarding our waterways, the DPW works tirelessly to maintain the essential systems and spaces that keep Abington thriving.
DPW is comprised of three divisions: Highway, Sewer, and Recreation.
Overview
Scope: The Abington Department of Public Works is responsible for the care and maintenance of the town's parks, playing fields, public roads, sidewalks, sewer infrastructures, pumping stations, and town vehicles.
Public Services: We work to provide cost-effective, safe, and environmentally friendly solutions to enhance the town and the surrounding environment. In addition, the Park and Recreation Department provides camps, activities, and classes for both children and adults to help develop young minds and encourage active, healthy lifestyles.
Services and Impact
Roads: The DPW maintains the town's roadways, sidewalks, and bridges. This includes sanding and plowing, filling potholes, street sweeping, and maintaining street signs and streetlights.
Land: The DPW maintains all town-owned land, including fields, parks, and municipal and school properties. This includes mowing and tree maintenance.
Sewers: The DPW maintains the town's sewers, including 13 sewer pump stations, 90 miles of gravity and force main pipe, 1,692 sewer manholes, 15 emergency generators and transfer switches, and a total of 4,849 property connections.
Trash: The DPW is also responsible for town trash pickups and solid waste disposal. (example trash barrels at Town parks).
Did You Know?
Sewers: Approximately 95% of the town's sewer effluent is conveyed to the City of Brockton's Oak Hill Way Waste Treatment Facility, with the remainder conveyed to the Town of Rockland's Wastewater Plant.
Partnerships: The Town of Abington is mandated by each Inter-municipal Agreement, the EPA and the DEP to maintain and inspect the sewer system with semi-annual reports submitted to all parties. The Sewer Department works with the Board of Health in regard to Title V issues.
Stormwater: Stormwater is water that comes from rain or snow and ice melt. Stormwater will soak into the ground, become puddles, evaporate, or runoff. Runoff can stream directly into our neighborhood lakes, streams, rivers and ponds. The pollution that is carried through stormwater affects all of us and it's important that we all do our part to keep our waterways clean. There are many things residents can do to help, including making sure pet waste is picked up, keeping storm drains clear of leaves and debris, and collecting fluids and waste when working on your car.
Goals and Projects
Implementing a four-way stop at the Groveland and Linwood streets intersection
Restructuring the Shaw Avenue, Adams and Washington Streets intersection with a $250,000 grant
The Chestnut and Hancock Streets rotary project is scheduled to go out to bid in January 2026 with construction intended to begin July 2026. This 8 million project is being fully funded by MassDOT.
The Chestnut and Randolph Streets project, which includes traffic lights, is scheduled to begin construction in Federal year 2027.
Grants
Over the last 9 years since becoming a DPW, the department has focused efforts on applying for as many grant opportunities as possible to lessen the burden on tax-payers for large scale projects. Since 2019, the DPW has had 13 projects approved for grant funds, totaling $16,275,889! While most grants have a limit to approved funding within a certain time frame and with strict criteria, we have worked diligently to have applications ready on deck as soon as the Town is eligible.
Most grants are prepared in partnership with an engineering team. The DPW has been lucky to work with several great design companies that have been instrumental in both applying for and preparing these projects. In addition to external engineers, the DPW often collaborates with other Town departments to ensure each project is well designed for a multitude of traffic and public safety concerns, ecological impacts, and all other potential impacts to the community.
MassDOT State Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP)
The State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) is a compilation of the thirteen regional Transportation Improvement Programs. The approved projects are typically reserved for high stake / high value projects that have significant traffic or transportation impacts.
Hancock & Chestnut Street Roundabout
Chestnut, Randolph, Old Randolph Street Traffic Lights
Shared Streets and Spaces Program
The Shared Streets and Spaces Grant Program is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). The program provides funding to municipalities and public transit authorities to quickly implement improvements to plazas, sidewalks, curbs, streets, bus stops, parking areas, and other public spaces in support of public health, safe mobility, and strengthened commerce.
Thicket @ Old Randolph Street Intersection Improvements
Washington Street @ Adams Street & Shaw Ave Intersection Improvements
Complete Streets Funding Program
The MassDOT Complete Streets Funding Program addresses critical gaps in transportation networks by giving Massachusetts municipalities tools and funding to advance Complete Streets in their community. Complete Streets are ones that provide safe and accessible options for all travel modes - walking, biking, transit and vehicles - for people of all ages and abilities. The program provides technical assistance and construction funding to eligible municipalities. To be eligible, municipalities must pass a Complete Streets Policy and develop a Prioritization Plan.
Lincoln Boulevard Shared Use Path
Washington Street (Beaver Brook Entrance to Lantern Ln) Shared Use Path
Municipal Small Bridge Program
The Municipal Small Bridge Program provides funding to municipalities for the replacement, preservation, and rehabilitation of eligible bridges. To be considered for funding, bridges must be on a local public way and must be on the Bridges Web Application (Bridges (state.ma.us) with a recorded span between 10 and 20 feet. These small bridges are not eligible for federal aid under existing bridge programs.
Centre Ave Bridge Design
Centre Ave Bridge Construction
Municipal Pavement Project
The Municipal Pavement Program seeks to improve the condition of municipally owned state numbered routes, with an emphasis on National Highway System (NHS) roadways, and to find opportunities to improve safety and accessibility for all modes. Projects are selected by MassDOT each fiscal year based on pavement condition data, the proportion of state numbered routes in poor condition in a municipality, and geographic equity. MassDOT works closely with selected communities to develop a scope of work for each roadway segment.
Randolph Street
HousingWorks Infrastructure Program (HWIP)
The HousingWorks Infrastructure Program (HWIP) is a competitive grant to municipalities and other public entities for a variety of infrastructure projects associated with housing development.
Summer Street MBTA Station Access Improvements
All Way Stop Control Program
Groveland & Linwood 4-way stop
Rapid Flashing Beacon Program
Randolph Street @ Wyman Road
School Zone Dynamic Speed Feedback Sign (DSFS) Program
Chestnut Street @ Woodsdale School
FAQs
Q. Can I get an abatement for water that does not enter the sewer system?
A. Residents can only receive an abatement if there is no water ban.
Q. There is a pothole on my street. How do I get it fixed?
A.Common road defects such as potholes, missing signs, streetlights out, and overgrown bushes blocking road view can be reported by filling out a DPW Road Defect Report form or by calling the DPW office at 781-982-2122.
Q. Can you cut back bushes on the street?
A. Depending on if the bushes are public or privately owned. Start by completing a DPW Road Defect Report form or by calling the DPW office at 781-982-2122.
Q. I have a tree in my yard that I want removed, will the DPW remove it?
A.The DPW can only remove trees that are on Town property and dead/dangerous. If there is a tree you are concerned about, please call the office and the DPW Director will determine if the tree falls within Town property. If approved, trees are removed by an outside company as funds are available.
Q. How much is my sewer bill?
A.You can find your sewer bill by using our bill pay service, UniPay. Bills can be searched by last name or address. You can also call the office at 781-982-2122.
Q. My sinks or toilets are backing up in my house. Can the DPW fix it?
A. The Sewer Dept. is only responsible for sewer lines in the street. The vast majority of the time, issues with a sewer backup in your house will be caused by a blockage in the home's sewer lines, which will need to be addressed by a plumber. You are always welcome to contact the office for assistance locating your home's sewer line but more than likely it will not be something within the DPW jurisdiction.
Staff Team
John Stone, Director
Jeanne White, Executive Assistant
Brian McLaughlin, Operations Manager
3 office staff
9 field employees
2 Vehicle Maintenance employees
Links
Department Webpage: https://www.abingtonma.gov/page/public-works
Park and Recreation Webpage: https://abingtonma.myrec.com/info/default.aspx
Past Spotlight on Highway Division: https://www.abingtonma.gov/article/1731771
Past Spotlight on Sewer Division: https://www.abingtonma.gov/article/1685176