*Changelog

2025-11-03 - The Acton Select Board continues to press forward with the flawed DPW project (without sidewalks), in part based on statistically invalid survey methodology. So even though we are almost a year into this petition, the need for signers remains.  Thanks for your ongoing support!

2025-09-17 - I (Erik Heels) was sworn in as an Associate Member of the Acton Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC), which advises the Select Board on transportation issues, including the construction of new sidewalks.  Please note that, in the context of this petition, I am speaking for myself individually, not in my role as a member of TAC.

2025-04-29 - The DPW project (without sidewalks) was voted down at town election. Preliminary election results (published election night at around 9:30pm) show 56.10% voted "no" and 39.88% voted "yes" on question 1, with all eight of Acton’s precincts voting “no.” I (Erik Heels) am told that any margin of victory greater than 5% is a landslide.

2024-12-26 - Today, I (Erik Heels) created this petition.  I post significant news here and/or as "updates" to this petition (click the "Updates" link above for more info).

* The Issue

East Acton is home to the Robbins Park neighborhood (built in the early 1960s), bordered by the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (on the east) and the Luther Conant School and Acton Arboretum (on the west).  East Acton is home to hundreds of PEOPLE, DOGS, AND BIKES, over 250 total households.  East Acton is also home to Acton's Department of Public Works (DPW), which moved to the neighborhood in 1969, despite objections from neighbors.  55 years later, everything that neighbors feared has come true: light & sound pollution, heavy traffic, and DANGER FOR PEOPLE & PETS.  Recently, a neighborhood dog was struck by a speeding vehicle and had to have one of its legs amputated!

Now the Town of Acton wants to build a new, larger, and busier DPW complex at 14 Forest Road, at an estimated cost of over $40M, and taking multiple years.  The North Acton Fire Station (NAFS), another public SAFETY project that was completed in 2022, included the addition of sidewalks for the SAFETY of the neighborhood, but the DPW project budget currently includes zero dollars for sidewalks.

In Acton, 7 schools, 4 fire stations, Acton Memorial Library, Acton Town Hall, the police station, and many small buildings ALL HAVE SIDEWALKS.  The DPW facility is BY FAR THE LARGEST PUBLIC BUILDING IN ACTON WITHOUT SIDEWALKS.  There is not a close second.

* Zero Dollars For Sidewalks Makes Zero Sense

Sidewalks on Forest Road would allow Robbins Park residents east of Hosmer Street to SAFELY walk from the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail to the Acton Arboretum and to the Conant School (both via Whittier Drive).

Sidewalks on Forest Road would only cost about 2.5% of the DPW construction project budget (a much lower percentage than the NAFS project).

Sidewalks on Forest Road would allow bikers to bike, dogs to be dogs, and people to walk - all SAFELY.

Sidewalks on Forest Road would make being in Robbins Park - for residents & guests - SAFER.

* DPW + Sidewalks = SAFETY

One of the reasons for prioritizing the North Acton Fire Station sidewalk project was that a new governmental function was being introduced into a residential neighborhood.  By this standard, sidewalks on Forest Road are 55 years overdue.

In summary, I am IN FAVOR of the DPW project with sidewalks.  I am OPPOSED TO the DPW project without sidewalks, as that is inconsistent with Acton's greater goal of public SAFETY.  And that's how I'll VOTE AT TOWN MEETING.

The DPW stands for SAFETY, sidewalks stand for SAFETY.

* A Call To Action

• Sign & Share this Petition
• Email the Acton Select Board (sb@actonma.gov).
• Attend the 2025 Acton Town Meeting; Vote FOR the DPW project but ONLY IF it includes sidewalks.

* Resources

• https://acton-ma.gov/831/Public-Works-Facility-Project - Public Works Facility Project
• https://www.actonexchange.org/ - search for “DPW”
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/2001770363606799 - “Acton-Boxboro Common” is a public group started by me
• https://www.giantpeople.com/acton - updates from me on this project
• heels@alum.mit.edu - email me (Erik J. Heels)

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Erik J. Heels claims to publish the #1 blog about technology, law, baseball, and rock ‘n’ roll. GiantPeople LLC was founded in 1999 and is a single-person LLC owned by Erik.