URGENT UPDATE: Residents of Dracut are voicing their frustration over the town’s ongoing issue with 140 unaccepted streets, leaving taxpayers feeling neglected and demanding solutions. During a public meeting on December 2023, Ed Patenaude, the director of Dracut’s Department of Public Works (DPW), confirmed that many residents are unaware they live on roads that do not receive town services.
Patenaude’s appearance before the Board of Selectmen was intended to shed light on the pressing issues surrounding unaccepted streets and the selection of public roads for necessary repairs. The situation is exacerbated by potential impacts of Dracut’s noncompliance with the MBTA Communities Act, which could hinder state reimbursements for road repairs under Chapter 90, crucial funding for local infrastructure improvements.
Many residents discover too late that they reside on these unaccepted streets, which typically stems from a failure to complete developer obligations. For instance, developers sometimes recover their bonds before fulfilling all construction standards, leaving residents on poorly maintained roads. One resident famously referred to living on an unaccepted street as an “embarrassment” during a 2018 Town Meeting, highlighting the emotional toll this issue takes on the community.
In response to growing concerns, the DPW commissioned a comprehensive inventory of both accepted and unaccepted streets, with the last report released in 2019. An updated inventory is set to be published in 2026, guiding a five-year repair plan for the town’s 147 miles of unaccepted streets. Patenaude emphasized the DPW’s goal of getting five to seven streets accepted each year, acknowledging the overwhelming challenge of addressing all 140 at once.
The DPW assesses road conditions, ranking them from Level 1 (best shape) to Level 5 (worst), with repairs often starting on streets that require the least work. Selectman Tony Archinski pointed to Tally Ho Drive as an example of a street demanding significant reconstruction, which was funded through federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Without ARPA support, additional repairs would have been impossible.
In a recent breakthrough, the DPW announced that 10 more streets were just accepted, which will enhance the funding Dracut receives from the state, according to Patenaude. However, some unaccepted streets, particularly older and smaller ones, pose unique challenges in meeting modern standards. The DPW is actively collaborating with state officials to address these issues and find viable solutions.
As this situation develops, residents are urged to stay informed and advocate for the necessary changes to ensure their roads are accepted and maintained. The urgency of the matter cannot be overstated, as the community awaits action from local officials to resolve this long-standing predicament.
