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Streetsblog Network

Connecting people to information about how to improve walking, biking, and transit

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Streetsblog Massachusetts

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A photo illustration of a trail surrounded by fall foliage with a pair of train tracks off the right edge, separated from the path by a fence. A sign in the foreground says "Belmont community path [line break] To Belmont Center [right arrow] Belmont High School [up arrow] 0.3 miles; Alewife MBTA station [up arrow] 1.7 miles

Belmont Community Path Rendering_creditMassDOT

Trails

After a 4-Year Delay, Belmont Gears Up to Build Its First Segment of the Mass. Central Rail Trail

Mass. Central Rail Trail in Weston and Waltham. Solid green lines indicate trail sections that have been completed; the longer green dashed line marked (2) in Waltham is a trail segment that's currently under construction (as of 2022), and the grey dashed line in the center marked (1) is a half-mile segment, currently in design, that would utilize two abandoned railroad bridges over Interstate 95 and the MBTA's Fitchburg Line regional rail tracks.

Waltham MCRT locator map

Gov. Healey Adds $24 Million for Trail Projects from Pandemic Relief Funds

A homemade sign printed on 8.5"x11" paper is haphazardly taped to the entrance to a pedestrian tunnel. The sign uses different fonts for each line of text. The top line reads (in blue, italicized text): "Join other trail users:" the next line, in black, larger text: "Plan an alternate route", the next line, smaller black text: "to use during the" (in red, larger italicized text) "upcoming" (final line, red bolder text) "tunnel closure". On the left side of the paper, someone has hand-written the word "When?" with a black marker. Fine print at the bottom of the sign says "FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT PARK SUPERVISOR AT (413) 387-4339."

DCRHadleySignage_creditMassbike

Accessibility

In Hadley, MassDOT, DCR Shut Down Norwottuck Trail With No Viable Detours

<p>Got tips? Send them to me via Signal, the encrypted messaging app, at 207-310-0728. You can also follow me on <a href="https://better.boston/@cmilneil" rel="me">Mastodon.</a></p>


PROMO-milneil

Christian MilNeil

Three people in construction vests walk down a long, straight paved pathway next to railroad tracks. In the distance the path ascends a ramp then curves out of sight, and beyond that is the skyline of downtown Boston.

View southeast from East Somerville Station

Study: Finishing the Mass. Central Rail Trail Could Deliver Over $200 Million In Annual Benefits

Fencing blocks a newly-paved trail through the woods. On the right is a tan-colored wall with no windows; on the right is a dense grove of trees. The trail disappears into the shade of a tunnel of trees in the distance.

Waltham MCRT

PHOTOS: Construction Progress On New Rail Trails In Sudbury and Waltham

A freshly-paved trail through a suburban neighborhood. Newly-planted trees line the edge of the path, and to the right is a new wooden fence. In the middle distance is an old train station with the sign "Waltham Highlands"

WalthamMCRTNearHammondSt

MassTrails Program Announces $11 Million in Grants for 68 Trail Projects

A view down a straight pathway with a yellow line painted down its center. The path is lined with black fencing and railroad infrastructure is visible to the right. In the distance is a bridge over the tracks and an MBTA station sign, and a skyline of buildings and trees

CommunityPathOpening

Somerville’s Community Path Extension Is Open

Bicycling

UPDATED: Unresolved Accessibility Issues Push Somerville Community Path Opening to Mid-June

A map of the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, extending from I-495 in the west to Waltham in the east, Framingham in the south, and Concord in the north. The Mass. Central Rail Trail corridor, highlighted in green solid lines where the trail is complete and in dotted lines to indicate incomplete trail sections, crosses the center map west to east, and the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail crosses the center of the map north to south.

MCRT_2023ProjectOverviewMap

3 Major MetroWest Trail Projects Are Under Construction In 2023

A crowd of people wearing bright construction vests and helmets crosses a bridge next to a chain-link fence (left) and railroad tracks (right)

BridgeOverWashingtonStreet

Somerville Approves Community Path Lease Agreement; Opening Delayed ‘Til April

Mass Central Rail Trail