Capital Projects

Amherst Forward supports the development and enhancement of civic infrastructure that meet our community’s needs and expectations. We are committed to ensuring that important capital projects benefiting all our children, families, and communities are prioritized and completed in a timely and financially responsible way. We also believe that Amherst’s ability to afford several large-scale capital projects at once hinges on our ability to accept state funding when we secure it, and we support the years of hard work and planning that go into soliciting state funds. 

There are four capital projects that have been in public discourse for many years. These are the Elementary School Building Project; the Jones Public Library Renovation & Expansion; the Department of Public Works Building; and the South Amherst Fire Station. In addition, we believe that our public roadways and sidewalks need regular maintenance and investment to ensure that both residents and visitors can travel safely from one part of Amherst to another on public and private transportation of all kinds. More information about our stance on each of these projects can be found below.

We endorse candidates for elected office who prioritize these capital projects, but these aren’t the only issues we care about. Other issues that we consider critical and around which we organize our members include: housing affordability for all, broadening our tax base, and protecting open spaces, among other things.

Elementary School Building Project

We were proud to have played our part helping the elementary school building project move forward. We can’t wait for the new building to open in the fall of 2026!

Jones Public Library Renovation & Expansion

The Jones Public Library is an important resource in downtown Amherst that is relied on by town residents of all ages and demographics. But the building was in such poor shape that it threatened the collection and kept many would-be users away. Amherst Forward believes that our town’s main public library should be fully accessible to all who want to use it, and should provide a safe, enticing space to meet our town’s educational, entertainment, and public information needs.  

In November, 2021, Amherst voters expressed their overwhelming support (65.4%) for a project proposed by the Library Board of Trustees to renovate and expand the Library, approving the Town Council’s decision to borrow $15.8 million to cover the Town’s share of the cost. After fulfilling all of the regulatory requirements, construction is now under way, with completion projected for early 2027.  Despite the unexpected inflation in construction costs in 2022, the Town’s share remains fixed as voted, with an expanded fundraising effort by the Friends of the Jones Library covering the difference.  Funding for the project will not raise taxes for Amherst’s residents. Approximately $7 million remains to be raised by the Friends’ Capital Campaign. You can learn more by visiting the Library’s website;  https://www.joneslibrary.org/934/Jones-Building-Project, and the website of the Friends’ Capital Campaign: https://www.joneslibrary.org/934/Jones-Building-Project.

Department of Public Works

The Department of Public Works (DPW) services and manages our public infrastructure -- clearing snow, maintaining public lawns, servicing public sewer lines, and maintaining over 130 miles of streets and roads, among other things. They provide pretty important services in town and are often the first responders in public emergencies, but we haven’t prioritized staff needs for many decades. Amherst Forward supports the relocation and building of a new DPW building to replace the over 100-year-old trolley barn in which the agency is currently housed. We believe that the health and well-being of our town staff are important, and that we cannot continue to allow the critical work of the DPW to continue in such decrepit conditions.

A charge was adopted in July 2025 for the Department of Public Works Building Committee (DPWBC) with a purpose to advice the Town Manager on the design and construction of a new DPW.

South Amherst Fire Station

Amherst Forward supports the need to relocate the downtown Amherst Fire Station, which no longer serves the needs of our community. Three separate committees over the past 50 years have recommended moving the fire station so that firefighters and EMTs can better service all of Amherst.

This article explains how the DPW and fire station project will be funded, and the next steps currently in play.

Public Roadways and Sidewalks

Amherst has more than 130 miles of roads, and many miles of sidewalks. Thanks to our region’s punishing weather, these public ways require constant maintenance and investment by our town. Unfortunately, our town has amassed a $16 million backlog in street and roadway repairs, and while we receive some aid from the state for road maintenance, we must increase our town spending on this critical infrastructure if we want to catch up to where we need to be. 

Amherst Forward supports the commitment of allocated town resources to maintain our public roads and build more sidewalks in order to increase accessibility and ensure the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicle users of all kinds.