NORWELL - July 8, 2026 - The Norwell Select Board voted unanimously July 8th to aggressively pursue a newly expanded $1 million state grant that would secure complete pedestrian connectivity along the town’s core commercial and scenic corridors. Capitalizing on an unprecedented “summer round” of the MassDOT Complete Streets Funding Program, Town Planning Director Nick Giaquinto won the board’s full endorsement to apply for maximum funding to design and construct a continuous sidewalk along the southern side of Main Street, bridging the critical gap from the Town Center post office all the way to Bridge Street.
The Full Story
While an active water infrastructure update opened the evening’s proceedings, the Select Board executed a major strategic pivot in the town’s pedestrian network planning. Planning Director Nick Giaquinto presented a uniquely competitive opportunity through MassDOT’s Complete Streets Program, noting that the state unexpected launched a summer funding round—a departure from its traditional spring and fall cycles.
Crucially, this cycle marks the first year MassDOT has doubled its maximum grant cap from $500,000 to $1 million. Giaquinto revealed that the town’s initial construction estimate sits at approximately $850,000. However, with a standard 10% contingency fee and incidental project costs factored in, he recommended requesting the full $1 million allocation.
The proposed expansion will construct a sidewalk on the south side of Main Street, running from Dover Street—adjacent to the post office at the eastern edge of Town Center—straight through to Bridge Street. The design seeks to unlock seamless foot traffic, connecting hundreds of neighborhood residents and localized cul-de-sacs directly to the historic Town Center, the James Library, and natural municipal assets like the Norris Reservation and Norwell Landing.
