Consultants unveil MilTown Center draft plan with roundabout and multi‑use path options; public input due March 7

LaBella Associates presented the draft Town Center Plan to the Town of Milton board on Feb. 26, outlining alternatives to ease congestion, improve pedestrian and bicycle connections, and link the town center to nearby preserves and trails.

"We are asking that comments on the draft that was submitted last week be received by Friday the 7th of March," consultant Dave Tillon said. The project team includes a transportation planner and Ethan Townson of CRTC, the plan’s funding partner.

Key elements in the draft include:

- Intersection alternatives for the Town Center: a modernized signalized intersection with geometric improvements and pedestrian signals (estimated at about $1.5 million in 2027 dollars), or a single‑lane roundabout (estimated $5–6 million). Tillon said each option has tradeoffs: the roundabout can reduce severe crashes and handle higher future volumes but may raise local sensitivity and require property adjustments.

- Shared‑use paths and sidewalks: a proposed 10‑ft shared‑use path along Geyser Road to Stone Church (just under 2 miles) is estimated at just over $1 million; a north–south shared link to the preserve is also estimated at just over $1 million. Options include routing the path in front of businesses (fewer right‑of‑way impacts) or behind them (greater right‑of‑way impacts). Crosswalks, lighting and lower‑cost pedestrian improvements were described as "low‑hanging fruit."

- Funding and staging: consultants noted a variety of grant programs with different match requirements (examples ranged from state‑funded 100% programs to common 80/20 federal/state splits). Tillon and Ethan Townson advised that projects could be bundled or phased and that preliminary design will determine the preferred alternative and exact impacts.

Board members and residents asked about public engagement, grant windows, disruption during construction, ADA and mobility concerns for roundabouts, and whether property acquisition (partial taking of commercial parcels) would be required for a roundabout. The consultant said preliminary design and survey would resolve many of these questions and emphasized construction contracts typically require traffic to be maintained during work.

Why it matters: The plan proposes multimillion‑dollar changes to the town center’s road and pedestrian network that would shape future development and connectivity to trails and preserves. Early decisions on alternatives influence grant eligibility, required right‑of‑way and project phasing.

What’s next: The team asked for comments by March 7; the final report is expected to be submitted to the town by March 19 for board consideration. Preliminary design and grant‑seeking would follow preferred‑alternative selection.

Representative quote: "There are two vehicle operation improvements — intersection upgrade or roundabout — and we’re including both in our report," Tillon said. "The decision on which to advance should occur in preliminary design."