FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2025
Hamilton, MA—The Town of Hamilton is pleased to announce it will receive a $50,000 earmark through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ recently approved $1.39 billion supplemental budget, funded by surplus revenue from the Fair Share surtax. This allocation supports a key local initiative: the planning and design of a new sidewalk along Highland Street between Linden Street and Lake Drive.
Approximately 900 feet of this section of Highland Street currently lacks a sidewalk or adequate shoulder. The area presents topographical and right-of-way challenges, and residents have raised safety concerns for many years.
State Representative Kristin Kassner played a key role in securing the funding, submitting an amendment to support the project’s planning phase and address long-standing safety issues. She recently met with Town Manager Joe Domelowicz and Department of Public Works Director Tim Olson to walk the neighborhood, assess conditions on-site, and discuss how the earmark could best be used to meet community needs.
“Highland Street is a popular route for walkers, runners, and cyclists alike. It’s also a well-traveled connector between many neighborhoods and downtown,” said Rep. Kassner, a longtime Hamilton resident and parent. “I’ve heard too many stories about bike accidents and near-misses along this stretch, which currently lacks a sidewalk or safe shoulder. This funding is a critical first-step in making the road safer for everyone.”
The $50,000 earmark will enable the Town to initiate design and engineering work, assess feasibility, and begin addressing the infrastructure and safety needs of this important corridor.
“This portion of Highland Street presents challenges due to its terrain and limited right of way, but this funding enables us to conduct a thorough feasibility assessment of the area’s physical constraints,” said Tim Olson, Director of the Hamilton DPW. “It’s a critical first step in designing a sidewalk that meets both safety standards and community need.”
“The neighborhoods off Highland Street are among the most densely settled in Hamilton, and this corridor is a critical connector to the Buker Elementary School, library and local parks. This funding gives us the opportunity to begin address safety and invest in needed infrastructure that will support the daily lives of our residents,” said Joe Domelowicz, Town Manager.
Hamilton is among dozens of communities statewide benefiting from the supplemental budget’s $716 million investment in transportation infrastructure. Of that, $103 million has been earmarked to support shovel-ready, locally driven projects, with a focus on equitable distribution and safety enhancements in smaller municipalities.
Town officials expressed their appreciation for Representative Kassner’s advocacy and for the Legislature’s continued commitment to safer, more accessible local transportation infrastructure.
This new project announcement follows the recent completion of a new sidewalk from School Street to Forest Street connecting the Forest Street neighborhood to the center of town. Together, these initiatives reflect the Town’s ongoing investment in pedestrian safety for residents of all ages.
“These sidewalk improvements are about more than infrastructure,” said Tim Olson, Director of the DPW. “They’re about creating a safer Hamilton—especially for kids and families who use these routes every day.”
Residents are encouraged to follow upcoming Select Board agendas for project updates and opportunities to share feedback as the planning process moves forward.
