Mass Central Rail Trail
Mass Central Rail Trail with stele thanking benefactors, Oakdale, West Boylston
Length59 miles (95 km) open, 94.5 miles (152.1 km) protected, 104 miles (167 km) when complete
LocationNorthampton, Massachusetts to Boston, Massachusetts
Began construction1985 Alewife Linear Park, 1993 Norwottuck Rail Trail, 1997 Wachusett Greenways MCRT
Trailheads42°19′05″N 72°37′39″W / 42.317953°N 72.627514°W / 42.317953; -72.627514
42°22′10″N 71°03′43″W / 42.369387°N 71.061964°W / 42.369387; -71.061964
UseHiking, bicycling, inline skating, cross-country skiing, horseback riding
DifficultyEasy
SeasonYear-round
SurfaceStone dust, paved, dirt, unimproved
Right of wayFormer Massachusetts Central Railroad, Fitchburg Line, former Fitchburg Cutoff, Green Line Extension
Maintained byDepartment of Conservation and Recreation, Wachusett Greenways, East Quabbin Land Trust, Northampton, Belchertown, Ware, Hardwick, West Boylston, Hudson, Cambridge, Somerville
Websitehttps://www.masscentralrailtrail.org/
Trail map
Historic Mass Central Railroad map, before MCRT. Fitchburg Railroad to North Station, Boston not shown.

The Mass Central Rail Trail (MCRT) is a partially completed rail trail between Northampton, Massachusetts and Boston along the former right-of-way (ROW) of the Massachusetts Central Railroad. It currently has 59 miles (95 km) open, and 94.5 miles (152.1 km) are open or protected for trail development. When complete, it will be 104 miles (167 km) long through Central Massachusetts and Greater Boston, forming the longest rail trail in New England.[1] Many sections of the trail, including the Norwottuck Branch of the Mass Central Rail Trail and the Somerville Community Path, have been developed as separate projects but serve as part of the complete Mass Central Rail Trail. The Norwottuck Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports the build and operation of the MCRT, maintains interactive maps of the MCRT and rail trails that connect with the MCRT, and other Massachusetts trails.

History

The first attempt to convert the former Massachusetts Central Railroad into a rail trail occurred in 1980 when the Commonwealth of Massachusetts acquired the westernmost 8.5 miles (13.7 km) of the former rail ROW, and developed it into what was then known as the Norwottuck Rail Trail in 1993.[2] In 1995, community leaders and volunteers formed the Wachusett Greenways, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed to create trails and greenways in the communities between Barre and Sterling, and began to build a hard packed stone dust trail over the rail ROW, naming it the Massachusetts Central Rail Trail. In 1996, the first plans to build out the MCRT from Berlin to Waltham on the ROW now owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) emerged, but stalled until 2010, when the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) executed a lease with the MBTA to build the Mass Central Rail Trail - Wayside. This work inspired other communities and land trusts to begin to build out their own sections of the MCRT.[3]

Efforts to complete the MCRT

In 1999, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management produced "Commonwealth Connections, A Greenway Vision for Massachusetts", including a call for a cross state multi-use trail reaching from Boston to the Berkshires.[4] Since 1999, Wachusett Greenways, the Wayside Rail Trail Committee, or the Norwottuck Network have held Golden Spike conferences during various years to promote the MCRT and other regional trails.[5] Since 2017, the Norwottuck Network has been issuing a monthly newsletter regarding MCRT development, as well as trail development in the region.[6] In 2021, MassTrails produced "Shared Use Path Benefits Primer", which featured the Norwottuck Branch of the Mass Central Rail Trail as one of the case studies.[7] In 2021, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation produced a feasibility study of the 68.5 miles (110.2 km) mid-state section of the MCRT between Belchertown and Berlin.[8] In 2023, MassTrails produced an interactive Priority Trails Network vision map for current and future shared-use path projects throughout the Commonwealth that will be prioritized, including all 104 miles (167 km) of the MCRT.[9] In 2023, the Norwottuck Network produced "Envisioning a Statewide Connection Massachusetts Central Rail Trail Benefits Study", a report highlighting the benefits of completing all 104 miles (167 km) of the MCRT.[3]

Trail sections

Mass Central Rail Trail - Northampton and Norwottuck Branch Rail Trail

Norwottuck Rail Trail Bridge, Northampton

The trail is fully complete and paved through Northampton. The Mass Central Rail Trail's western terminus is at Northampton Union Station, beginning a section shared with the New Haven Northampton Canal Line trail, maintained by the City of Northampton.[10] It continues 0.9 miles (1.4 km) parallel with the Connecticut River Line, an example of rail with trails, to Woodmont Road. Next, the Norwottuck Branch of the Mass Central Rail Trail, runs 11 miles (18 km) from downtown Northampton through Hadley and Amherst going 1,300 feet (400 m) into Belchertown; it is a state park maintained by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).[11] The connection from Northampton to Hadley is made by the Norwottuck Rail Trail Bridge, a 1,492 feet (455 m), 8 span, steel lattice truss bridge first built over the Connecticut River in 1887. The trail was built in 1993, first known as the Norwottuck Rail Trail, and was one of the last US formal paved bikeways at 8 feet (2.4 m) wide; in 2015 the trail was widened to 10 feet (3.0 m).[2]

The 5-mile (8.0 km) section west of downtown, known as the Northwest Leg (Look Park Segment) of the Northampton Rail Trail System to Williamsburg, also known as the Francis P. Ryan Section, is maintained by the City of Northampton.[10][12] It was formerly the New Haven & Northampton Company Williamsburg Branch, not part of the Mass Central Railroad, and is not included in the 104 miles (167 km) tally.[13] Additional connecting trails in this section include the Arthur R. Swift Amherst/UMass Bike Connector, and the Manhan Rail Trail, which is part of the greater New Haven and Northampton Canal Greenway.[14][15]

Mass Central Rail Trail - Belchertown and East Quabbin

The rail ROW heads roughly southeast through Belchertown until the Ware River in Palmer. The remaining rail ROW in the East segment of the Quabbin Valley to New Braintree (and Barre) roughly follows the Ware River northeast.

History of MCRT - Belchertown and East Quabbin

In 1997, Belchertown held an unofficial straw poll against further study of the trail.[16] At that time, Massachusetts was the only state that required paving of trails if using Federal funds, which was cited as a concern. Over the following years, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation generated updated guidelines allowing for non paved surfaces on shared use paths and greenways.[17] Other sections of the MCRT were built with a hard packed stone dust surface, such as the Wachussett Greenways sections. From 2000 to 2017, the Belchertown Land Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, purchased 6.8 miles (10.9 km) (72%) of the former ROW land as it became available and donated it to the Town of Belchertown for public use and to protect from development.[18][2] In 2017 the Friends of the Belchertown Greenway was formed with the goal of building and maintaining the trail.[2]

When 3.2 miles (5.1 km) of the rail ROW was listed for sale in Hardwick and New Braintree, the Central Highlands Conservancy LLC was established in 2005. It purchased the land, giving the East Quabbin Land Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, two years to run a capital campaign to purchase the land at cost. This preserved the trail section, including 3 historic bridges that would otherwise would have been scrapped.[19]

MCRT - Belchertown and East Quabbin trail details

From Warren Wright Road in Belchertown to Federal Street, the rail ROW is privately owned and has been largely obliterated by development. From Federal Street to Route 181, the trail ROW is owned by the Town of Belchertown and is open primarily as a snowmobile trail. It is unpaved, with some rough sections but is mostly followable on foot or mountain bike. The sections north of the US 202 overpass are more overgrown, with the southern sections clearer and better maintained.[20] From Route 181 to the Palmer Town line, the rail ROW is privately owned and not accessible to the public.

The New England National Scenic Trail follows Federal Street and therefore connects with the MCRT. Additionally, there is a short on-road connection from the MCRT at Route 181 to the Chickadee Trail, with the southern terminus at Depot Street, a 2.3 miles (3.7 km) hiking trail following the rail ROW of the former Boston and Albany Railroad Athol Branch, roughly following the Swift River north.[21]

The bridge over the Swift River was demolished after rail service was discontinued and there is no river crossing available. The rail ROW starting in Bondsville, Palmer is unused and overgrown, but still owned by Massachusetts Central Railroad (MCER), the current shortline railroad, not the former railroad of the same name.[22] Old rails and ties are still in place, as is the bridge over the Ware River, and no trail development has taken place.

In Palmer and Ware, the rail ROW is still in use by MCER. The bridge over the Ware River is missing, making the ROW between the river and the Gibbs Crossing shopping plaza unusable. From Gibbs Crossing to Robbins Road, a 1.56 miles (2.51 km) section is open. It has a hard packed stone dust surface and is usable by walkers and bikes. This section is owned and maintained by the Town of Ware. Past Robbins Road to the upper Ware River crossing, two river bridges are missing and the rail yard on the east side of the river is still active, blocking the trail ROW. After the Ware River crossing, though Frohloff Farm and Accessible Rail Trail, through Upper Church Street, almost to the Ware–Hardwick Covered Bridge, 2.7 miles (4.3 km) was completed as part of the Mass Central Rail Trail Expansion in 2022.[23][24][25] The remaining section to the covered bridge is undeveloped and not open to the public.

The section from just after the covered bridge, at the Ware Town line, through the village of Gilbertville, Hardwick is owned by the Town of Hardwick. In 2022, the Town of Hardwick was awarded $133,000 in state funds to improve the section to MCRT standards.[26] In 2023, the 1 mile (1.6 km) section at the covered bridge, into Hardwick, to the Saint Aloysius Cemetery opened, known as the Ware River Park in Gilbertville section of the Mass Central Rail Trail.[27] A portion of this section is also known as the Gilbertville Fitness Trail, built in 2014.[28]

The rail ROW paralleling Route 32 from Gilbertville to Creamery Road is no longer intact and has been lost to development and private ownership. In addition, the bridge over the active rail ROW is missing. This stretch is not open to public use. From Creamery Road, through a lattice truss bridge over the Ware river to New Braintree, and a pony truss bridge over the Ware river to Maple Street in Wheelwright, Hardwick, the 3 miles (4.8 km) section is complete and open to the public. The two bridges received a 2023 MassTrails grant to replace the timber decking.[29] This stretch has a hard packed gravel surface and is open to all non-motorized use. It is owned and maintained by the East Quabbin Land Trust, known as the Mass Central Rail Trail, New Braintree and Hardwick.[30] From Maple Street, into New Braintree again, to the Barre Town line, the trail ROW is obstructed by a missing bridge and the Tanner-Hiller Airport and is not open to the public.

Mass Central Rail Trail - Wachusett Greenways

Wachusett Greenways has completed 20 miles (32 km) of the planned 30 miles (48 km) of the MCRT through the towns of Barre to Sterling, including eight bridges. All of these sections are hard packed stone dust or dirt, which helped accelerate construction dates forward. The first section of trail opened in 1997 in West Boylston.[31][2][32]

From the New Braintree Town line to Barre Depot Road, the ROW in Barre is either obstructed by private development (south of Route 67) or part of an active section of railroad (north of Route 67). East of Barre Depot Road, the rail ROW is obliterated by development. The White Valley bridge over Ware River was constructed in 2013 to connect Route 122 to the beginning of the intact rail ROW and trail near the Oakham Town line.[33] The trail departs the Ware River in Barre as it continues east to Boston.

A connection to the Ware River Rail Trail, a 15 miles (24 km) trail following the ROW of the former Ware River Railroad, is available by an on-road connection, roughly following the Burnshirt River. The southern terminus is on Route 122, 0.25 miles (0.40 km) from the White Valley bridge.[34]

A 8.8 miles (14.2 km) section from Barre, though Oakham, to Glenwood Road in Rutland, is complete and open, including the Charnock tunnel installed in 2006 and the Pommogussett Tunnel installed in 2011.[35][36] There is a connection in Rutland to the Midstate Hiking Trail, between Whitehall Road. The section between Glenwood Road and Wachusett Street is a privately owned section of the ROW, and not currently open to the public. A 1.2 miles (1.9 km) section continues from Wachusett Street to the Holden Town line. These trail sections are owned by the DCR and maintained by Wachusett Greenways.[37]

From the Rutland/Holden Town line to Princeton Street, after the Providence and Worcester Railroad, the rail ROW is privately owned and lost to development. An on-road route is being used to fill the gap. From Princeton Street to Mill Street, a 1.84 miles (2.96 km) section is open to hikers and mountain bikers with a dirt surface. This section is owned by the DCR, and is the most northwestern semicircle of the trails labeled "DCR Authorized Bicycle Routes" on the DCR's Wachusett Watershed Bike Routes.[38] This section was created by a 2019 MassTrails award for the first phase of construction.[39]

The ROW from Quinapoxet Street to River Street is privately owned and lost to development. Instead, after a short on-road route north on Mill Street, a 2.2 miles (3.5 km) detour route from Mill Street, crossing Manning Street, to River Street, using trail along the Wachusett Aqueduct, has been developed to bypass this section, sometimes known as the Holden Connector. A MassTrails award in 2023 funded improvements from Mill Street to Manning Street, and construction began September 8, 2023.[29][40] From River Street to Thomas Street in West Boylston, a 3 miles (4.8 km) ROW is complete and open, roughly following the Quinapoxet River. The detour and trail ROW combined in Holden are both maintained by the DCR and are labeled "Mass Central Rail Trail" on the DCR's Wachusett Watershed Bike Routes.[38] The trail in West Boylston is owned and managed by the Town.[41]

From Thomas Street in West Boylston, through Sterling, to the numbered DCR gate 39 on Route 110 in Clinton, an on-road route is used. The ROW remains in service as the Worcester Main Line of Pan Am Railways.

The Sterling Rail Trail, also known as the Mass Central Rail Trail Sterling Spur, is a 1.7 miles (2.7 km) trail located between Sterling Junction and Sterling Center. It is available by an on-road connection to the Gates Road southern terminus. It uses the former ROW of the Fitchburg and Worcester Railroad so was never part of the Mass Central Railroad and is not included in the 104 miles (167 km) tally. This trail is owned by the DCR and maintained by Wachusett Greenways.[42]

Mass Central Rail Trail - Clinton and Berlin

Boston 36 miles (58 km) marker on DCR spillway, Clinton
Clinton Train Tunnel, unimproved

From the numbered DCR gate 39 in Clinton, the 1.2 miles (1.9 km) DCR spillway to the west side of the Wachusett Reservoir Dam is open to public use, but is a dead end as the dam crossing is not open to the public.[43]

East of Route 70 to the Berlin Town line the rail ROW is still undeveloped. The Clinton Greenway Conservation Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, helped to acquire the ROW from Pan Am Railways, including the 1,100 feet (340 m) railroad tunnel under Wilson Hill between Boylston Street and Clamshell Road, once the longest in Massachusetts.[44] In July 2020, the state awarded $112,000 for purchase of this section, which completed in December 2020.[45] The trail will connect two Town owned parcels, the Maffei Conservation Area and the Rauscher Farm, and pass through the open space around the Woodlands Development.[46][47] A further $397,000 MassTrails grant in 2022 will complete planning for the tunnel, and begin planning for the remainder of the trail east to the Berlin Town line.[26] A further $162,400 MassTrails grant was awarded in 2023 to purchase a parcel of land off Berlin Street with trail access and a parking area.[29]

West of the Route 62/West Street intersection the rail ROW is undeveloped. It is partially owned by the Town of Berlin and partially still owned by Pan Am Railways.

Mass Central Rail Trail - Wayside

History of MCRT - Wayside

In 1976, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) purchased assets of the Boston and Maine (B&M) Railroad, including the right to operate rail over several tracks that no longer provided passenger rail service. B&M retained some freight rail obligations on some tracks for several more years.[48] By 1977, the MBTA had acquired title of this land in fee simple for the purpose of providing and extending mass transportation services, a portion from the 1976 purchase and a portion by order of taking.[49][50] In 1996, the MBTA produced the "Central Mass. Commuter Rail Feasibility Study", which advised reactivation of a commuter rail extension between Berlin and Waltham, which had no passenger train service since 1971 and no freight train service since 1980, would not be cost effective.[51] In 1997, the towns and city from Berlin to Belmont (excepting Bolton, Stow, and Marlborough, the towns with the smallest sections) considered approving a rail trail over the former B&M railroad ROW, known as the Mass Central Rail Trail - Wayside, with state and federal funds. Berlin, Hudson, Sudbury, Wayland, and Waltham voted to approve by large margins, but Weston voted 698 against and 410 in favor, which derailed progress on the Wayside trail for at least two decades.[52][53] In 2006, theft of a section of rail was discovered in Berlin, which encouraged the MBTA to take a more active role maintaining the property, and by 2010, the DCR executed a 99-year lease with the MBTA to build the Wayside trail, now from Berlin to Waltham.[2] Under the terms of the lease, the MBTA retains the right to reactivate commuter rail.[54] Because the ROW has not been determined to be abandoned, this arrangement is not railbanking.[55] In 2014, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) determined the Wayside trail did not require further Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act review, simplifying permitting for the project.[56]

In Wayland and Weston, by 1952, the Boston Edison Company (BECo) acquired an easement along this section of the B&M's ROW and built overhead power lines.[57] In 2016, BECo's successor, Eversource, filed permits to build a gravel access road for the power lines over what had become the MBTA's ROW. This included a trail section running from Cochituate Road in Wayland to before the bridge over the MBTA Fitchburg Line in Weston.[52] This significantly reduced construction costs of the trail, and in partnership, the DCR paved the access road and installed safe road crossings in 2019.[58] While this superseded the 1997 Weston Town vote, the Town officially stated that it is thankful to DCR and Eversource for their contributions to the trail, and supports the completion of the MCRT.[59]

In Hudson, Stow, Marlborough, and Sudbury, in 2015 ISO New England issued a Greater Boston area needs assessment, directing utility companies to investigate a series of transmission projects to improve electrical grid reliability, including a connection of the Sudbury and Hudson power substations.[60] In November 2015, Eversource first proposed the Sudbury to Hudson Transmission Reliability Project, noting the project could accelerate the construction of the MCRT - Wayside, as both could be constructed on the MBTA ROW. At that time, the proposal was for overhead 115 kV power lines over the MBTA ROW and Hudson roads, and Eversource was asked by the Towns of Hudson and Sudbury to consider undergrounding the power lines along the same route instead.[61] By April 2017, when Eversource sought project approval from the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB), Eversource preferred such an underground MBTA ROW route, though as part of the approval process, Eversource was required to evaluate alternative options. Only the preferred, underground MBTA ROW route was endorsed by the DCR, as the transmission project had the benefit of substantially reducing trail construction costs, and the underground route required Eversource to make several bridge improvements the trail required.[62] The preferred underground MBTA ROW route was approved by the EFSB in 2019. The EFSB decision noted the associated benefits of the trail, but stated the EFSB's approval of the transmission project was independent of the trail benefits.[60] Designed and permitted in partnership with the DCR, the project includes building a gravel sub-base for the trail, restoring or rebuilding three trail bridges, and building a trail tunnel on this section (Phase 1). After the Eversource work, the DCR will pave the trail surface, install safe road crossings, and restore selected historical railroad features (Phase 2).[63][64][65] Phase 1 construction was originally expected to complete in December 2019, however the start of construction was pushed to October 2022, due to an unexpectedly lengthy permitting process.[66][67] Many lawsuits were filed by the Town of Sudbury and various abutters alleging the overlapping and jointly permitted construction suffered from varied legal defects. However, in every ruling, all judges determined all plaintiffs could not succeed with any claim.[68][69][49][70][71][55][72] The MBTA argued it is legally required to maximize nontransportation revenue via this land lease to Eversource.[49] In 2022 and 2023, abutters sued the MBTA in Massachusetts Land Court twice alleging property rights over the MBTA's land but withdrew both cases before a judicial ruling.[73][74]

MCRT - Wayside trail details

All sections of the Wayside trail, once built, form a state park maintained by the DCR, except a section shared with the Assabet River Rail Trail, which is maintained by the Town of Hudson.[63][75] All completed sections of the Wayside trail are paved, except a stone dust section in Wayland, typically 10 or 12 feet (3.0 or 3.7 m) wide with grass shoulders.[76][63] The DCR plans to pave all unpaved sections.

MCRT - Wayside details
Length Status City/Town Western Terminus Eastern Terminus Notes Connecting Trails ETA
2.3 miles (3.7 km) Unimproved Berlin / Bolton Coburn Road, Berlin[56] Bolton/Hudson Town Line The rail ROW remains undeveloped and overgrown with some missing bridges, but plans are being developed for future trail construction. The Bolton section is 100 feet (30 m). Unknown
3 miles (4.8 km) Unimproved Hudson Bolton/Hudson Town Line Main Street, Hudson A 2023 MassTrails grant was awarded for design of this section.[29] This section includes two timber trestle bridges over the Assabet River and Bruce's pond.[77] Assabet River Rail Trail Unknown
0.55 miles (0.89 km) Complete Hudson Main Street, Hudson Wilkins Street, Hudson This section of the MCRT is shared with the Assabet River Rail Trail and maintained by the Town of Hudson. Complete
7.6 miles (12.2 km) Construction Hudson / Stow / Hudson / Marlborough / Sudbury Wilkins Street, Hudson Sudbury Substation Phase 1 construction including the pedestrian bridges and a gravel access road is ongoing. Bridge 127 in Sudbury was a riveted plate deck girder bridge partially submerged into Hop Brook, damaging the piers and steel. Bridge 130 over Fort Meadow Brook in Hudson was a timber trestle bridge destroyed by fire in 2019. Both bridges have been demolished and are being replaced by prefabricated structural steel truss bridges. Bridge 128, also over Hop Brook in Sudbury, was built in 1881. It is a riveted plate deck girder bridge with granite abutments and timber piers.[77] It is receiving a new timber deck and railing, preserving the girders, piers, cross frames, and the majority of the abutments.[78] A new precast arch pedestrian tunnel was installed under Chestnut Street in Hudson.[79] This section passes by South Sudbury station adjacent to the former railroad crossing, with tracks forming a "diamond" to be preserved inside a new trail rotary, and the historic Sudbury Section Tool House.[80] The Stow section is 327 feet (100 m) between Wilkins St Hudson and Chestnut St Hudson.[56] Marlborough has a few feet because it's northeasternmost border is centered on the trail, a tripoint with Hudson and Sudbury. Assabet River Rail Trail.

The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Phase 2D is also under construction in Sudbury, and the two trails will connect at the site of the Sudbury "diamond".

There are many connections to hiking trails including the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge, Marlborough-Sudbury State Forest, Hop Brook Conservation Land, and Memorial Forest.[81]

 2026[82]
1.4 miles (2.3 km) Unimproved Sudbury / Wayland Sudbury Substation Route 20, Wayland These two sections of the MCRT are currently at 25% design and funded to construct a paved trail.[63] The second section was installed as a stone dust trail by the Town of Wayland in 2017.[52] In the unimproved section in Wayland, there is a timber trestle bridge over the Sudbury River in Great Meadows Wildlife Refuge, and a historic railway turntable to be preserved.[77][63] 2027
0.5 miles (0.80 km) Complete (Stone dust, to be paved) Wayland Route 20, Wayland Cochituate Road, Wayland A portion of these sections are shared with the Bay Circuit Trail and the East Coast Greenway. There are many connections to hiking trails including Jericho Town Forest and Sears Conservation Land.[83]
4.4 miles (7.1 km) Complete Wayland / Weston Cochituate Road, Wayland Before Bridge over MBTA Fitchburg Line, Weston The DCR paved the access road and installed safe road crossings in 2019. This section passes by Wayland station, the historic Wayland Freight House, and Weston station.[84] Complete
0.3 miles (0.48 km) Unimproved Weston / Waltham Before Bridge over MBTA Fitchburg Line, Weston Jones Road, Waltham This section will rehabilitate the existing bridge over the MBTA Fitchburg Line. The bridge was built in 1896 and is a riveted lattice truss bridge on stone abutments.[85] The DCR's goal is to begin construction in 2023.[86] Construction funding was announced in 2023.[87] 2024
0.5 miles (0.80 km) Unimproved Waltham Jones Road, Waltham Hillside Road, Waltham This section will rehabilitate the existing bridge over Rt. 128. The bridge was built in 1960 and is a two span plate girder bridge on concrete abutments and pier.[77] To be designed in coordination with the 1265 Main Street mixed use development under design. This section is at 25% design.[85] Construction funding was announced in 2023.[87] "To follow" Waltham / Weston[86]
0.3 miles (0.48 km) Complete Waltham Hillside Road, Waltham After Border Street, Waltham Constructed in 2014 in partnership with the 1265 Main development at that time.[88] Complete
2.1 miles (3.4 km) Construction Waltham After Border Street, Waltham Before Linden Street Bridge, Waltham Waltham funded the approximately $9 million cost of construction of its section from City revenues. The timber trestle bridge over Clemantis Brook has been rehabilitated with new decking and timber bridge railings, stone abutments, and concrete piles. This section passes by Waltham Highlands station. Construction began in 2022.[89] There is a connection to the hiking trails in Prospect Hill Park. The Western Greenway to MCRT connection received a 2023 MassTrails grant for design and permitting.[29][90] 2023
0.65 miles (1.05 km) Construction Waltham Before Linden Street Bridge, Waltham Beaver Street, Waltham,[56] former Clemantis Brook Station location The Linden Street bridge rehabilitation received MassTrails grants in 2022 and 2023 for construction.[26][29] The bridge was built in 1894 and is a riveted lattice truss bridge on granite abutments. Past Linden Street, it is an example of rail with trails with the MBTA Fitchburg Line. 2024

Mass Central Rail Trail - Waltham to Boston

All sections of the trail from Belmont to Boston were developed as separate projects but serve as part of the complete Mass Central Rail Trail. All completed sections are paved.

MCRT, Waltham to Boston details
Length Status City/Town Western Terminus Eastern Terminus Notes Connecting Trails ETA
0.75 miles (1.21 km) Unimproved Waltham Beaver Street, Waltham, former Clemantis Brook Station location Waltham / Belmont Town Line By 2014, not considered part of the Wayside trail.[56] May be addressed in 2024.[91] A Metropolitan Area Planning Council 2012 Belmont/Waltham Community Trail Alignment Study considered design options for this section.[92] Unknown
1 mile (1.6 km) Unimproved Belmont Waltham / Belmont Town Line Clark Street, Belmont Belmont Community Path Phase 2. Design is underway.[93][94] No commitment for construction funding yet.[95] It will become an example of rails with trails with the MBTA Fitchburg Line. 2026-2027 if accepted for TIP funding[95]
1.1 miles (1.8 km) Unimproved Belmont Clark Street, Belmont Brighton Street, Belmont Belmont Community Path Phase 1. Design is underway, and the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) has committed to pay for the construction cost.[96] It will become an example of rails with trails with the MBTA Fitchburg Line. 2026[97]
0.8 miles (1.3 km) Complete Belmont / Cambridge Brighton Street, Belmont Alewife station, Cambridge Fitchburg Cutoff Path. Opened in 2013. Intersects at Alewife Station with the Minuteman Bikeway, as well as the Alewife Brook Greenway and the greater Mystic Greenways network. Sequential connections heading south include the Alewife Brook Parkway Path, the Fresh Pond Bikeway, the Watertown-Cambridge Greenway, the Watertown Branch Rail Trail, and the Charles River Bike Path. Complete
0.9 miles (1.4 km) Complete Cambridge Alewife station, Cambridge Cameron Avenue, Cambridge Alewife Linear Park. Opened in 1985. A project to study and redesign the 35 year old Linear Park began in 2021.[98] Complete
3.2 miles (5.1 km) Complete Cambridge / Somerville / Cambridge Cameron Avenue, Cambridge N First Street, Cambridge Somerville Community Path. Opened in sections between 1994 and 2015, and the Somerville Community Path Extension in 2023 as part of the Green Line Extension (GLX) project, making it an example of rails with trails. The extension includes a 1,400 feet (430 m) viaduct over the Fitchburg Line and GLX, reaching 50 feet (15 m) tall.[99] The Charles River Bike Path is accessible by bike lanes across Charles River Dam Road. The Boston Harborwalk includes the Charles River Dam. East of Cambridge Crossing, the trail is shared with the East Coast Greenway. Complete
0.9 miles (1.4 km) Complete Cambridge / Boston N First Street, Cambridge Charles River Dam, Charlestown, Boston Running through the North Point Development Cambridge Crossing, North Point Park, over the North Bank Bridge, and Paul Revere Park. In the future, the planned pedestrian path of the North Station Draw One Bridge replacement to North Station may be incorporated. Complete

References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Della Penna, Craig (2023-09-24). "A Timeline of the Journey Thus Far to Piece Together The Corridor" (PDF). Mass Central Rail Trail. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
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  7. ↑ "MassTrails Shared Use Path Benefits Primer". Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  8. ↑ "Mass Central Rail Trail Feasibility Study". Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  9. ↑ "MassTrails Priority Trails Network Vision". Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  10. 1 2 "Maps". Friends of Northampton Trails. 2019-09-08. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
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  14. ↑ "Swift, Arthur R. | Physical Plant | UMass Amherst". University of Massachusetts Amherst. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  15. ↑ "New Haven & Northampton Canal Greenway - Maps". New Haven & Northampton Canal Greenway. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
  16. ↑ Denison, Dave (1998-04-01). "Derailed in Belchertown and Weston". CommonWealth Magazine. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  17. ↑ "MassDOT Design Guide, Chapter 11, Shared Use Paths and Greenways". Department of Conservation and Recreation. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
  18. ↑ "FAQs". Mass Central Rail Trail. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  19. ↑ Della Penna, Craig (2022-11-12). "MassTrails Conference 11-12-22, Building Trails - Creating Community As Connections, Mass Central Rail Trail" (PDF). MassTrails Conference. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  20. ↑ "Maps". Belchertown Greenway. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  21. ↑ "Mass Central Rail Trail; Belchertown/Chickadee Trail". Bike it or Hike it. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  22. ↑ "Mass Central Rail Trail Feasibility Study". Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
  23. ↑ "Frohloff Farm & Accessible Rail Trail, Ware". East Quabbin Land Trust. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  24. ↑ Henshaw, Cynthia (2022-10-01). "East Quabbin Land Trust Fall 2022 Newsletter" (PDF). East Quabbin Land Trust. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  25. ↑ "Mass Central Rail Trail Expansion". East Quabbin Land Trust. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  26. 1 2 3 "2022 MassTrails Awards (81 Projects)". MassTrails. 2022-06-30.
  27. ↑ East Quabbin Land Trust (2023-09-19). "Ware River Park Gilbertville MA Map" (PDF). Notwottock Network. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  28. ↑ "The Greenways Connector" (PDF). Wachusett Greenways. 2014-06-01.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2023 MassTrails Grant Awards (68 Projects)". MassTrails. 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  30. ↑ "Mass Central Rail Trail, New Braintree and Hardwick". East Quabbin Land Trust. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
  31. ↑ "Wachusett Greenways". Wachusett Greenways. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  32. ↑ "About Us". Wachusett Greenways. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
  33. ↑ "MCRT Construction". Wachusett Greenways. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  34. ↑ "Ware River Trail". Town of Princeton, Massachusetts. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  35. ↑ STAFF, Jean Laquidara Hill TELEGRAM & GAZETTE. "New underpass provides link for Rutland part of rail trail". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  36. ↑ CORRESPONDENT, Sandy Meindersma. "Rutland's Route 56 is reopening today". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  37. ↑ "Quick Facts". Wachusett Greenways. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  38. 1 2 "Wachusett Watershed Bike Routes". Department of Conservation and Recreation. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  39. ↑ "2019 MassTrails Grant Awards (71 Projects)". MassTrails. 2019-06-26. p. 4.
  40. ↑ "MCRT CLOSED beginning 9/8/23 Over the Hill in Holden from Manning St. to Wachusett St./Rte. 31 | Wachusett Greenways". Wachusett Greenways. 2023-09-08. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  41. ↑ "Quick Facts". Wachusett Greenways. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  42. ↑ "Sterling Trails". Town of Sterling, Massachusetts. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
  43. ↑ "2023 Wachusett Reservoir Watershed Public Access Summary". Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Office of Watershed Management. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  44. ↑ "Clinton Tunnel". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
  45. ↑ "2020 MassTrails Grant Awards (55 Projects)". MassTrails. 2020-07-30. p. 3.
  46. ↑ "The Clinton Greenway Conservation Trust Inc. and the Town of Clinton, Mass. announce the acquisition of the Mass Central Rail Trail, Clinton". Mass Central Rail Trail. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  47. ↑ "Clinton MA: Formal Trail Inventory" (PDF). Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission. 2013-06-18. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  48. ↑ "History of the B&M Railroad". Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  49. 1 2 3 "SUDBURY vs. MASSACHUSETTS BAY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, 485 Mass. 774". Massachusetts Cases. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  50. ↑ LaHaise, Kevin (2023-03-03). "MBTA Files Motion To Dismiss Land Court Case 23 MISC 000030". Sudbury Weekly. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  51. ↑ Humphrey, Thomas J. (December 1996). "Central Mass. Commuter Rail Feasibility Study" (PDF). Metropolitan Area Planning Council. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  52. 1 2 3 Fox, Pamela W. (Spring 2018). "Weston Historical Society Bulletin Vol XLIX, No.1: 1997: Weston Derails the Rail Trail" (PDF). Weston Historical Society. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  53. ↑ Lorant, Richard (1997-12-14). "Town Puts Stick in Spokes of Bikeway Plan". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  54. ↑ Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (December 30, 2010). "Alternative Transportation Corridor Lease Agreement between the MBTA and DCR" (PDF). Town of Sudbury, Massachusetts. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  55. 1 2 1 Fuchs 2 Hedlund 3 Oberman 4 Primus 5 Schultz, Federal Surface Transportation Board Members (February 2, 2022). "Decision, Docket No. FD 36493, Protect Sudbury Inc. — Petition for Declaratory Order" (PDF). Surface Transportation Board. Retrieved 2023-08-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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  57. ↑ Sudbury Power and Light Committee (June 23, 1966). "Do We Have to be Ugly? The Story of Sudbury's Fight for Underground Power Lines" (PDF). Town of Sudbury, Massachusetts. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  58. ↑ Della Penna, Craig. "Norwottuck Network Rail Trail Newsletter 11-10 #40". Norwottuck Network. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  59. ↑ "Mass Central Rail Trail". Town of Weston, Massachusetts. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  60. 1 2 Evans, Joan Foster (2019-12-18). "COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS ENERGY FACILITIES SITING BOARD FINAL DECISION EFSB 17-02 / D.P.U. 17-82 / D.P.U. 17-83". Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
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  62. ↑ Roy, Leo P. (2017-04-18). "The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) letter of support". Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  63. 1 2 3 4 5 Jahnige, Paul. "Mass Central Rail Trail - Wayside". Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  64. ↑ Dudek, Martin (2022-02-11). "Historic Properties Avoidance And Protection Plan: Eversource Energy/Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation's Sudbury-Hudson Transmission Reliability and Mass Central Rail Trail Project, Towns of Hudson, Marlborough, Sudbury, and Stow, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, MHC #RC.62384, EEA #15703" (PDF). Town of Sudbury, Massachusetts. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  65. ↑ Montgomery, Jim (July 7, 2020). "MCRT DCR Response to Delegation" (PDF). Town of Sudbury, Massachusetts. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  66. ↑ "Sudbury to Hudson Transmission Reliability Project". Eversource. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  67. ↑ NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy (2023-06-28). "Attachment A, Sudbury-Hudson Reliability Project, Condition R Compliance Filing". Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  68. ↑ "SUDBURY vs. MASS. BAY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, MISC 17-000562". Massachusetts Cases. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  69. ↑ Lehan, Richard (March 15, 2019). "Recommended Final Decision on Motions to Dismiss for Lack of Standing and Motion to Intervene by Ten Citizen Group, Docket No. 2018-01-RL". Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Retrieved 2019-08-26.
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  75. ↑ "Berlin Rail Trail Advisory Committee Final Report" (PDF). Town of Berlin, Massachusetts. June 20, 2018.
  76. ↑ "City of Waltham Plan and Profile of Wayside Trail" (PDF). City of Waltham, Massachusetts. July 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
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