Jones Avenue Neighborhood Street Improvements
In Summer or Fall 2025, the Streets Cabinet will begin reconstructing streets and sidewalks in the Jones Avenue Neighborhood. We are also rebuilding two intersections to simplify turns, add green infrastructure, and expand the sidewalk.
-
Get Email Updates
In response to community requests, in 2020, the Boston Transportation Department used paint and flexposts to make intersections along Jones Avenue safer as part of our Vision Zero program. We also noticed that streets throughout the neighborhood were in need of improvements. This year, we will be reconstructing sidewalks, building accessible curb ramps, repainting crosswalks, planting about 130 trees, adding green infrastructure, upgrading street lights, and repaving streets throughout the neighborhood (see the Design section for more information on the streets included in the project).
As part of this work, we will also rebuild two intersections, at Jones Avenue and Ballou Avenue, and at Willowwood Street and Dumas Street. The reconstructed intersections will simplify the street layout so drivers have better visibility and take turns at safer speeds. At Willowwood Street and Marden Avenue, we will also add a raised crosswalk.
Project History
In 2019, a group of community members submitted an application for a Neighborhood Slow Streets project in the Jones Avenue Neighborhood. The Streets Cabinet met with community members to listen to and observe their safety concerns on a site walk, and determined that there were opportunities for quick-build solutions at intersections through the Vision Zero program, which were implemented the next year.
Following the quick build improvements in 2020, the Boston Public Works Department began design work to bring streets within the neighborhood into a state of good repair. In 2025, we will rebuild many streets within the Jones Avenue Neighborhood as part of the Street Reconstruction program, which will make streets, sidewalks, and curb ramps smooth and accessible to everyone.
Since the project area also included temporary Vision Zero safety measures at the intersection of Jones Avenue and Ballou Avenue, we will also construct those using permanent materials that extend the sidewalk area. We are also including similar changes to extend the sidewalk at an additional intersection, at Willowwood Street and Dumas Street.
Design
We are reconstructing sidewalks, rebuilding curb ramps, and planting new trees on all streets in the study area, including:
- Ballou Avenue (whole street)
- Jacob Street (whole street)
- Jones Avenue (whole street)
- Dumas Street (whole street)
- Mascot Street (whole street)
- Willowwood Street from Marden Avenue to Norfolk Street
We are also repaving these streets, except for Jacob Street and Jones Avenue between Mascot Street and Jacob Street, which have good surface quality from recent repaving. On Mascot Street, we are also upgrading street lighting.
In addition to reconstructing streets, sidewalks, and curb ramps, we are also redesigning two intersections: Jones Avenue at Ballou Avenue, and Willowwood Street at Dumas Street. The intersection redesigns will expand the sidewalks and simplify the street layout so drivers have better visibility and take turns at safer speeds.
WILLOWWOOD STREET AT DUMAS STREET AND MARDEN AVE
At the intersection of Willowwood Street and Dumas Street, we will:
- “T” off the intersection to make turning simpler and safer
- Add Green Infrastructure elements to manage stormwater
- Retain all path connections between buildings and the new sidewalk area
- Retain driveway access across green infrastructure areas (example pictured below)
- Build new accessible curb ramps with new crosswalks
- Shorten the distance required to cross the street
- Add a STOP sign for northbound drivers on Willowwood Street approaching Dumas St
We will also build a raised crossing across Marden Avenue approaching Willowwood Street.
JONES AVENUE AT BALLOU AVENUE
At the intersection of Jones Avenue and Ballou Avenue, we will:
- Expand the sidewalk to permanently replace the safety changes that currently use paint and flexposts
- Plant three new street trees with permeable sidewalks (Example pictured below)
- Build new accessible curb ramps with new crosswalks
- Shorten the distance required to cross the street
-
Have questions? Contact:
