Engineering Division
The Engineering Division is responsible for overseeing the City’s Capital Improvement Program including the City’s infrastructure, public buildings, and other assets, administering numerous programs including the 50/50 sidewalk and free tree programs, and managing and providing access to information including assessor plat and zoning maps, GIS mapping and record plan information.
On this Page
Contact Information
See Our Hours →
Phone Numbers
Eric Hammerschlag
Ext. 364
Michael Wilcox
Ext. 447
Emily Morse
Ext. 240
David Taylor
Ext. 366
Joe Morais
Ext. 317
Program Management
The Engineering Division administers several programs to help fulfill a variety of DPW goals and responsibilities, as outlined below.
Contact Information
See Our Hours →
Phone Numbers
Eric Hammerschlag
Ext. 364
Michael Wilcox
Ext. 447
Joseph Morais
David Taylor
Ext. 366
Emily Morse
Ext. 240
Joe Morais
Ext. 317
Stormwater Improvements Maintenance Videos
Free Tree Program
Planting trees is one of the smartest things a City can do. Trees provide an impressive array of benefits, including:
- Reduce flooding
- Beautify neighborhoods
- Improve air quality
- Help cool neighborhoods by reducing the “urban heat island effect”
- Increase habitat availability for beneficial organisms
- Improve mental health
DPW plants trees in the sidewalks in front of private property at no cost to the property owner. You can request a tree or multiple trees using the application found here:
Free Rain Barrel Program
Rain Barrels are an easy way for residents to reduce the amount of runoff that leaves their property during a rainstorm. Doing so creates numerous benefits for the City and the resident, including:
- Reduce pollution of the City’s rivers and Narragansett Bay
- Relieve stress on the City’s drainage system and lower its maintenance costs
- Save money on your water and sewer bills by using the water collected in your rain barrel to water your grass or garden
You can request a free rain barrel using the application found here:
Stormwater Program
The City owns and operates what is known as a municipal separate storm sewer system, or MS4. This system reduces flooding throughout the City by carrying stormwater runoff into rivers and streams. A permit from the RI Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) is required to operate this system, and this permit requires that the City take steps to clean the polluted stormwater runoff before it is discharged. The short video below helps explain why this is necessary, and describes the programs we offer (see below) to City residents and businesses to help clean our stormwater.
You can also review the DPW’s annual report to the RIDEM regarding its stormwater system management performance here: Storm Water Report
Finally, because homeowners are our single most valuable partner in reducing pollution of our rivers, here is a list of ten things you can do you to help lessen the impact of stormwater runoff at your property:
50-50 Sidewalk Program
When the DPW is petitioned to repair or construct new sidewalks in the City, City Ordinances require that one half of the total construction cost is assessed to the abutting property owner. In 2017, property owners’ share of construction cost averaged $60 per foot of sidewalk in locations where both concrete and curb required replacement. Costs vary pending the actual scope of work, which DPW determines following a formal estimating process.
Please find the application to participate in this program here:
Recent Projects and Achievements
The Engineering Division helps manage the process of maintaining and improving the City’s infrastructure, public buildings, and other assets. We do this by providing technical advice and review of projects delivered by others (e.g. private developers, public utilities), and managing delivery of DPW’s own capital improvement projects. Our Project Management team has delivered over 50 projects in the last five years alone, including the notable examples below.
Information Management & Mapping
The Engineering Division is responsible for creating, storing, updating, and sharing several types of information. Below is a summary of the information we manage, and instructions for accessing it.
- Maintain Tax Assessor’s Plats and Zoning Maps
- PDF copies of the Assessor’s Plats are available here: Assessors Plat Maps
- PDF copies of the Zoning Maps are available here: Zoning Maps
- You can also find information on taxes, zoning, and other property features using our web-based information sharing system: MapGeo This system also allows users to generate abutters lists, maps and perform a host of other useful tasks.
- Maintain Plans of City Assets
- We maintain record plan information of City-owned sewer mains, storm drains, sewer service connections, streets, sidewalks, bridges, buildings, and other City-owned property. Requests for this information can be submitted by mail or email using the “Request for Information Form” on the left side of this page.
- GIS Mapping Support
- Our GIS Coordinator provides GIS mapping support for several City functions. This includes mapping of various public assets, voting districts, DPW projects, etc. Please visit our City Maps webpage to access maps of City infrastructure and other features.