Planning for Progress: Steps Toward a New DPW

The Town of Nantucket identified the urgent need for a new Department of Public Works (DPW) facility in 2017, following a comprehensive review of the department’s growing operational challenges. At the 2018 Annual Town Meeting, an appropriation was approved to conduct a feasibility study and design the new facility.

After the 2018 Annual Town Meeting, the Town conducted a feasibility study to evaluate the viability of constructing an appropriate facility at the current DPW location at 188 Madaket Road. As a result of that effort, the Town acknowledged the need to identify possible alternate locations for potential DPW relocation. The Town then performed a Site Alternatives Analysis, carefully considering numerous factors, including geographic location, climate vulnerability, physical site features, access to utilities, environmental and human receptor impacts, permitting, site contamination history, and, ultimately, cost. The analysis concluded that both the 10 Sun Island Road and 1 Shadbush Road locations are significantly better suited to support a new, modern DPW facility. However, market rate lease payments that the Town would be required to pay to the Nantucket Memorial Airport eliminated 10 Sun Island Road as a practical alternative, and thus 1 Shadbush Road was chosen as the site for the proposed new DPW facility in early 2023.

At the 2023 Special Town Meeting, 1 Shadbush Road was included in the 2018 ATM appropriation. Since the 2023 Special Town Meeting, the DPW project team, design consultant, OPM, and permitting consultant have advanced the Schematic Design phase of project, which was completed in July 2024. The Schematic Design Report is available for viewing at the bottom of this page.

Learn the work the DPW team does for the town and its residents

• Visit our homepage.