Central Avenue Business District Improvements

The “Square” formed by the intersection of Central Avenue and Eliot Street, locally referred to as the Central Avenue Business District, provides an interesting mix of various modes of transportation, local retail and pedestrian activity. Both Central Avenue and Eliot Street function as collectors, intersecting just south of the Boston Line, and with Central Street crossing over the Neponset River and into the Mattapan section of Boston. The District includes an MBTA Trolley Station, a DCR Bike Trailhead, and several potential residential/mixed use developments. This District is one of the few commercial areas in Milton.

The Town was awarded a $1m state grant for public improvements to support private development/investment and to assist in revitalizing the Central Avenue District. A stipulation of the award was that the Town needed to plan, design and construct improvements under a very aggressive time frame.

The BETA team developed a comprehensive plan that met with strong neighborhood support, while balancing a broad range of interest. The project was advanced to construction on time and included improved geometrics, period lighting, facilities to bury aerial utilities, special sidewalk treatments, landscaping, and other urban design features to make the District more pedestrian friendly and attractive as a public place. The creation of wider sidewalks allows for outdoor seating and gathering. The project also included features to enhance stormwater quality.