Our Mission: to enhance the quality of life for citizens, businesses, and visitors to the City of Newton by providing well-planned, sustainable, high quality and financially sound public works projects and utility services, along with supporting citywide emergency response and delivering respectful customer service.

Commissioner of Public Works, Shawna Sullivan
Deputy Commissioner, Bernie McDonald

The Public Works Department consists of seven divisions, which include Administration and Finance, Engineering, Fleet, Streets, Sustainable Materials Management, Transportation, and Utilities. Our employees are dedicated to providing essential services for residents, businesses, and visitors to the City of Newton. Whether installing sidewalks and curbing, fixing a pothole, paving a road, repairing a water leak, designing and constructing traffic calming measures, responding to a weather disaster,or fielding a resident’s request, the Department of Public Works provides round the clock assistance to the Newton community in a respectful, effective and efficient manner.

The Department of Public Works continues the implementation of the Transportation Network Improvement Program in Fiscal Year 2025. This critical program improves and maintains Newton streets and sidewalks by ensuring that they are accessible for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

The Transportation Network Improvement Program includes the design, construction and maintenance of roadways, sidewalks, ADA ramps, bicycle accommodations, traffic calming projects, traffic control devices, pavement markings and signage to optimize safety and traffic flow for all public way users. The Department of Public Works Transportation Network Improvement Program
includes prioritization plans for traffic calming, paving, and sidewalk repair/replacement.

The Department of Public Works Sustainable Materials Division is responsible for the management of curbside collection of trash, yard waste, organics, and recyclables as well as disposal of these materials. This Division is also responsible for operating the Resource Recovery Center at Rumford Avenue which provides opportunities for residents to reduce, reuse, and recycle at the facility.

The Public Works Department is continuing replacement of the citywide water meter system in Fiscal Year 2025. The department is committed to ensuring that the drinking water continues to be top quality by conducting weekly water testing and ongoing water pipe replacement, lining, and cleaning projects. The Department also continuously improves our sewer infrastructure for quality and cost efficiencies and improves stormwater quality throughout the city. 

Public Works has put a large emphasis on promoting environmental sustainability to ensure a bright future for generations to come by continuing to explore opportunities to use porous materials, low carbon concrete, recycled materials and improve and increase the number of city-owned electric and alternative fueled vehicles and equipment. 

Current Department of Public Works Operations

The Department of Public Works is working to address the concerns of our residents and customers that we serve to ensure we continue to provide reliable services.

The Department of Public Works is fully open to the public.

We're Hiring in Public Works!

Join our DPW team to keep the City's roadways, sidewalks, crosswalks, and utilities infrastructure operational and the City running! You can apply for all our open positions here.