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95-410: MCRT may refer to: Mass Central Rail Trail The fictional Major Case Response Team on NCIS (TV series) Monte Carlo ray tracing, a computer graphics rendering technique more commonly known as path tracing MCR-T - a german Ghettotech DJ Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with

190-554: A diamond to be preserved inside a new trail rotary, and the historic Sudbury Section Tool House . The Stow section is 327 feet (100 m) between Wilkins St Hudson and Chestnut St Hudson. The Marlborough section is several feet to the center of the trail, forming a tripoint with the Hudson and Sudbury borders. It is accessible from Marlborough by the Old Concord Road hiking path. The Wayside Inn Railroad Waiting Room

285-770: 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. From the Belchertown border in Palmer, the rail ROW continues roughly southeast until reaching the Ware River , then continues through the Quabbin Valley to New Braintree and Barre roughly following the Ware River northeast. All improved sections are

380-621: A 92 miles (148 km) scenic footpath, between the two crossings of Whitehall Road. 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 it

475-678: A Commuter Rail Improvement Program which concluded that, while too early to restore service on the Central Mass Branch, acquisition from the Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M) to preserve the Central Mass Branch ROW and other ROWs would be prudent. In 1976, the MBTA purchased from B&M various ROWs across Massachusetts, including the Central Mass Branch. B&M retained various freight rail service obligations over

570-720: A MassTrails grant for preliminary design of the MCRT—Wayside from Colburn Road Berlin, through Bolton, to the Hudson border was awarded, as well as a feasibility study for all of the MCRT in Berlin to the Clinton border. The Bolton section is 100 feet (30 m). There is no known ETA for construction. 🟣 2.6 miles (4.2 km) from the Bolton/Hudson Town line to Priest Street, Hudson is unimproved. A 2023 MassTrails grant

665-639: A feasibility study for all sections in Berlin was awarded. A connection to the existing Lester G. Ross Dam, Wachusett Aqueduct Trail, and proposed Boston Worcester Air Line Trail (BWALT) will occur with Phase 2 in Berlin. By 1971, passenger service on the Central Mass Branch west of Waltham, subsidized by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) since 1964, had ended due to low ridership. In 1972, Governor Francis Sargent initiated

760-823: 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. This significantly reduced construction costs of the trail, and in partnership, the DCR made the decision in January 2017 to build the trail by paving the access road and installing safe road crossings, which completed in 2019. Eversource approached Weston for cooperation, sparking Weston's decision to participate, reversing

855-559: A hard packed stone dust surface suitable for bikes and walkers. 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. Old rails and ties are still in place, as

950-497: A new shared use path on Route 117 and Green Street. DCR notes this roadwork will establish the first connection between the neighboring MCRT sections, prior to the more direct 128 Bridge rehabilitation route. The 1265 Main project also considers relocating the Kendal Green MBTA commuter rail station to Jones Road to create a multi-modal center integrated with the trail. Construction is estimated to start in 2024 for

1045-1029: A part of the DCR's Historic Curatorship Program . The Division of Water Supply Protection manages 150,000 acres (610 km ) of watershed lands and is responsible for the protection of the drinking water supply for approximately 2.5 million residents of Massachusetts, primarily in Greater Boston. This division monitors lakes and ponds, well drillers, and rainfall throughout the Commonwealth. Protected water supply areas include Quabbin Reservoir , Ware River Watershed, Wachusett Reservoir and Sudbury Reservoir . The Bureau of Engineering provides professional engineering, design, and construction management services in support of DCR properties. In addition to providing engineering services for over 450,000 acres (1,800 km ) of parks, forests, watersheds, beaches, 340 dams, and numerous recreational facilities,

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1140-735: A portion of the trail is shared with the Bay Circuit Trail and the East Coast Greenway . In Weston, there are many connections to hiking trails including Jericho Town Forest and Sears Conservation Land . In Waltham, 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. Department of Conservation and Recreation#History and structure The Department of Conservation and Recreation ( DCR )

1235-587: A railroad rock cut, to north of the Wachusett Reservoir Dam is open to public use. In 1974, the trail lost the possibility to convert the 917 feet (280 m) Clinton Viaduct over the reservoir, which was demolished by the Metropolitan District Commission . One potential alternative, the top of the dam itself, is only open to public use two days a year. However, there is a 0.9 miles (1.4 km) detour following

1330-575: A series of transmission projects to improve electrical grid reliability, including a connection of the Eversource substation in Sudbury to Hudson Light & Power . In January 2015, Sudbury officials noted the potential Sudbury to Hudson Transmission Reliability Project was an opportunity for construction of the MCRT—Wayside at no cost to the town, as the MBTA ROW was the most direct route between

1425-751: A steep gravel path along the Stillwater River, and then River Road east of the South Nashua River, to the yellow DCR gate numbered 43 at Boylston Street and Cameron Street. East of Boylston Street to the Berlin Town line the rail ROW is still unimproved. The Clinton Greenway Conservation Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, helped to acquire the ROW from Boston & Maine Railroad , including the 1,100 feet (340 m) railroad tunnel under Wilson Hill between Boylston Street and Clamshell Road, once

1520-475: A trail tunnel under Chestnut Street in Hudson, and completed various restorative works such as mechanical removal of all invasive plants, thousands of native plantings, and wetland replication on the MBTA property at a 2:1 ratio of wetland located in the construction area (Phase 1). After the Eversource work, the DCR will pave the trail surface, install safe road crossings, add signage, and restore selected historical railroad features (Phase 2). Phase 1 construction

1615-419: A transportation reform law. Originally, a certain number of bridges listed in the act creating MassDOT were to be transferred after December 31, 2014 when ongoing construction was completed. However, a Memorandum of Agreement between DCR and MassDOT instead transferred these bridges in 2009 along with all other DCR vehicular bridges. The Bureau of Engineering manages and/or operates a number of parkways across

1710-565: Is a cost saving measure for the build of the MCRT—Wayside, including eliminating the cost of rehabilitating a timber trestle bridge over the Assabet River to the northwest of the section. The unimproved ROW, intersecting the completed trail at the former Gleason Junction , runs northwest and southeast. 🟠 7.6 miles (12.2 km) from Wilkins Street, Hudson to the Sudbury Substation are under construction, passing thought

1805-687: 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 in Muschopauge, Rutland to the Holden Town line, however the final 0.1 miles (0.16 km) are unimproved. These trail sections are owned by the DCR and maintained by Wachusett Greenways. From the Rutland/Holden Town line to Princeton Street, after the Providence and Worcester Railroad ,

1900-635: Is a state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts , United States, situated in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs . It is best known for its parks and parkways . The DCR's mission is "To protect, promote and enhance our common wealth of natural, cultural and recreational resources for the well-being of all." The agency is the largest landowner in Massachusetts. The Department of Conservation and Recreation

1995-724: Is a state park maintained by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). 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

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2090-668: Is at Northampton Union Station , maintained by the City of Northampton. It continues 0.9 miles (1.4 km) parallel with the Connecticut River Line , an example of rails 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

2185-833: Is complete and open. It includes the Charnock Tunnel installed in 2006, the Pommogussett Tunnel installed in 2011, the White Valley Bridge over the Ware River installed in 2013, and a culvert after Miles Road installed in 2024. It also includes the Charnock Cut, which the railroad cut through significant rock ledge, now forming the highest point of the MCRT. This section includes a 0.1 miles (0.16 km) on-road route on Miles Road in Rutland. The section between Glenwood Road and Wachusett Street

2280-660: Is known as the Mass Central Rail Trail, New Braintree and Hardwick . It is owned and maintained by the East Quabbin Land Trust, has a hard packed gravel surface, and is open to all non-motorized use. In 2005 this rail ROW was listed for sale, and the Central Highlands Conservancy LLC was established in 2005. It purchased the land, giving the East Quabbin Land Trust two years to run a capital campaign to purchase

2375-811: Is known as the Ware River Park in Gilbertville section of the Mass Central Rail Trail . It is owned by the Town of Hardwick, running from just after the covered bridge to the Saint Aloysius Cemetery. A portion of this section is known as the Gilbertville Fitness Trail , built in 2014. In 2022, the Town was awarded $ 133,000 in state funds to improve the section to MCRT standards, and it opened in 2023. The rail ROW paralleling Route 32 from Gilbertville to Creamery Road

2470-577: 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 in Hardwick, through a lattice truss bridge over the Ware river to New Braintree, and through a pony truss bridge over the Ware river to Maple Street in Wheelwright , Hardwick, a 3.2 miles (5.1 km) section

2565-505: Is not open to the public. Wachusett Greenways has completed about 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 the improved sections are a hard packed stone dust surface suitable for bikes or walkers, which helped accelerate construction dates forward compared to paving. The first section of trail opened in 1997 in West Boylston. From

2660-527: Is owned by the DCR, and was created by a 2019 MassTrails award for the first phase of construction. 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

2755-746: Is owned by the Town of Belchertown and is open for pedestrians and snowmobiles. The sections north of the US 202 overpass are more overgrown, with the southern sections clearer and better maintained. There is a timber trestle bridge over Jabish Brook in this section, and a report by the Friends of the Belchertown Greenway was commissioned as a first step before rehabilitation of the bridge. The trail just after Station Road in Amherst to after North Washington Street in Belchertown section runs parallel with

2850-543: Is partially owned by the Town of Berlin, CSX Transportation , and the MBTA. An advocacy group Friends of the Berlin Rail Trail is working to build the Mass Central Rail Trail in Berlin. This group has proposed a 3 Phase construction, where Phase 1 would be the Mass Central Rail Trail—Wayside , and Phase 2 and Phase 3 are central and western Berlin, respectively. In 2024, a MassTrails grant for

2945-524: Is responsible for the stewardship of its lands, from general maintenance—such as emptying trash barrels, cutting grass, and making building improvements—to landscape-level management. DCR also provides services beyond its boundaries, for example, Bureau of Forest Fire Control is available to aid and assist local cities and towns during natural disasters as well as periods of high fire danger, while its Bureau of Forestry administers forest management on both state and private lands. It also manages its land through

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3040-536: Is the bridge over the Ware River, and no trail development has taken place. Continuing into 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. Two sections are open in Ware. From Gibbs Crossing to Robbins Road, a 1.56 miles (2.51 km) section is known as the Gibbs Crossing segment of

3135-692: The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Phase 2D which is under construction, and the two trails will connect at the site of the Sudbury "diamond". There are also many connections to hiking trails including the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge , the City of Marlborough Desert Natural Area , the Town of Sudbury Hop Brook Marsh Conservation Land , and Sudbury Valley Trustees Memorial Forest . In Wayland,

3230-663: The Holden Connector . A MassTrails award in 2023 funded improvements from Mill Street at Wachusett Street to Manning Street, and construction began September 8, 2023. A 2024 MassTrails grant was awarded to complete this construction. From River Street to Thomas Street in the village of Oakdale , 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

3325-419: The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) was created, partly to subsidize struggling commuter rail routes including the Central Mass Branch . However, ridership continued to decline and the MBTA closed the Central Mass Branch in 1971, although freight rail continued for a few more years. The first attempt to convert the former Central Massachusetts Railroad into a rail trail occurred in 1980 when

3420-632: The New England Central Railroad , an example of rails with trails . 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,

3515-710: The Sudbury River in Great Meadows Wildlife Refuge. 🟢 0.5 miles (0.80 km) from Route 20, Wayland to Cochituate Road, Wayland is complete with a stone dust surface. It was installed as a stone dust trail by the Town of Wayland in 2017, and includes a historic railway turntable to be preserved. It will be improved in the Spring 2027 Sudbury-Wayland construction project with paving. This section passes by Wayland station . 🟢 4.4 miles (7.1 km) from Cochituate Road, Wayland to before

3610-421: The Ware–Hardwick Covered Bridge , a 2.7 miles (4.3 km) section is known as the Mass Central Rail Trail Expansion . The East Quabbin Land Trust (EQLT), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, purchased Frohloff Farm in 2018 and completed the Expansion in 2022. The remaining section to the covered bridge is unimproved and not open to the public. A 1 mile (1.6 km) section through the village of Gilbertville , Hardwick

3705-450: The Wheelright Branch in Belchertown. In 1997, Belchertown held an unofficial straw poll against further study of the trail. 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. Other sections of

3800-401: The "Path Development Corridor", consisting of a paved path, typically 10 or 12 feet (3.0 or 3.7 m) wide, with grass shoulders, grading, and additional side clearance. Sections are marked 🟣 in design, 🟠 construction, or 🟢 complete. 🟣 2.3 miles (3.7 km) from Coburn Road, Berlin to the Bolton/Hudson Town line remains unimproved and overgrown with some missing bridges. In 2024,

3895-446: The Bureau of Engineering also manages over 525 lane miles of parkways and nearly 300 bridges and tunnels notable for their landmark stature and importance in the Commonwealth's transportation system. The Bureau of Engineering managed and/or operated a number of bridges across the Commonwealth prior to November 2009. All non-pedestrian bridges were transferred to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation on November 1, 2009 as part of

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3990-416: The Central Massachusetts Railroad, and is not included in the 104 miles (167 km) tally. Additional connecting trails in this section include the Arthur R. Swift Amherst/UMass Bike Connector , and the New Haven Northampton Canal Line and Manhan Rail Trail , which are both part of the greater New Haven and Northampton Canal Greenway . By 1983, the Boston and Maine Railroad had taken up all tracks of

4085-428: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts acquired the westernmost 8.5 miles (13.7 km) of the Wheelright Branch, and developed it into what was then known as the Norwottuck Rail Trail in 1993. 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

4180-475: The Commonwealth that will be prioritized, including all 104 miles (167 km) of the MCRT. 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. The trail is fully complete and paved through Northampton, Hadley, Amherst, and a short section in Belchertown. The Mass Central Rail Trail's western terminus

4275-429: The DCR and are labeled "Mass Central Rail Trail" on the DCR's Wachusett Watershed Bike Routes map. The trail in West Boylston is owned and managed by the Town. From Thomas Street in West Boylston, through Sterling, to Clinton, an on-road route is used. The ROW remains in service as the Worcester Main Line of CSX Transportation . A connection to the Ware River Rail Trail , a 15 miles (24 km) trail following

4370-448: The Green Street / 117 shared use path, with the 128 Bridge work to be determined, to follow MCRT Waltham-Weston, Phase 1. 🟢 0.3 miles (0.48 km) from Hillside Road, Waltham to after Border Street, Waltham, is the first completed section of the Wayside trail. It was built in 2014 in partnership with the 1265 Main Street Phase 1 development. 🟢 2.75 miles (4.43 km) from after Border Street, Waltham to Beaver Street, Waltham, at

4465-399: The MBTA produced the "Central Mass. Commuter Rail Feasibility Study", which advised reactivation of the Central Mass Branch between Berlin and Waltham would not be cost effective. In 1997, a "Central Massachusetts Rail Trail Feasibility Study" was commissioned by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority , which found construction of a 25 miles (40 km) trail to be feasible. The proposed trail

4560-403: The MBTA's Central Mass Branch property. In Hudson, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) section of the MCRT—Wayside is shared with the Assabet River Rail Trail along the former Marlborough Branch of the Fitchburg Railroad. Like this trail section, the predecessor railroads also shared this ROW, as some B&M Central Mass passenger trains were run via the Marlborough Branch starting in 1902. This

4655-480: The MBTA-DCR trail easement was unlawful and void. However, in every ruling, all judges determined all plaintiffs could not succeed with any claim. In 2022 and 2023, abutters sued the MBTA in Massachusetts Land Court twice alleging property rights over the MBTA's Central Mass Branch property in furtherance of such allegations, but withdrew both cases before a judicial ruling. In 2024, Hudson Town meeting voters rejected four citizen petitions to sell or lease

4750-399: The MCRT and other regional trails. By 2002, every community along the corridor agreed to the unified Mass Central Rail Trail name to promote the idea of a state-wide trail. Since 2017, the Norwottuck Network has been issuing a monthly newsletter regarding MCRT development, as well as trail development in the region. In 2021, MassTrails produced "Shared Use Path Benefits Primer", which featured

4845-402: 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. In 2017 the Friends of the Belchertown Greenway

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4940-408: 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. Since 1999, Wachusett Greenways, the Wayside Rail Trail Committee, or the Norwottuck Network have held Golden Spike conferences during various years to promote

5035-409: The Mass Central Rail Trail . This section was opened in 2023 and 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 MCER 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

5130-460: 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

5225-425: The Mystic River Watershed Association, Friends of the Middlesex Fells, Appalachian Mountain Club, and local student organizations. The Division of State Parks is responsible for the maintenance and management of over 310,000 acres (1,250 km ) of state-owned forests and parks. These areas are designated as either Woodlands, Parklands, or Reserves, and are managed to maintain specific land-use characteristics. From

5320-429: 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 the MCER (north of Route 67). East of Barre Depot Road, the rail ROW is obliterated by development. The trail departs the Ware River in Barre as it continues east to Boston. An 8.8 miles (14.2 km) section from Barre, though Oakham, to Glenwood Road in Rutland,

5415-403: The Norwottuck Branch of the Mass Central Rail Trail as one of the case studies. 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. In 2023, MassTrails produced an interactive Priority Trails Network vision map for current and future shared-use path projects throughout

5510-423: 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 beginning of the Wachusett Greenways section at the Ware river. There is a significant network of interconnecting shorter trails in the Ware River Watershed. There is a connection in Rutland to the Midstate Hiking Trail ,

5605-452: The ROWs for several more years. By 1977, the MBTA had acquired title ownership of all of these ROWs in fee simple , a portion from the 1976 purchase and a portion by order of taking. By 1980, a permanent discontinuance of the B&M's freight obligations for the Central Mass Branch west of Waltham was approved. The final train on the Central Mass Branch ROW, freight in Waltham between Bacon Street and Clematis Brook , ran in 1994. In 1996,

5700-484: 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. All completed sections of the Wayside trail are paved, and DCR plans to pave both all sections under construction and the only section that is currently stone dust in Wayland. While the MBTA ROW is 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 m) wide, DCR leased trail sections are 19 feet (5.8 m) wide, known as

5795-425: The agency's beginning in 2003 until 2012, DCR land management was organized into three divisions: State Parks and Recreation, Urban Parks and Recreation, and Water Supply Protection. In 2012, State Parks and Urban Parks were unified into one division. As of 2009, within the greater Boston area there are urban wilds, historic sites, and other naturally aesthetic or significant environmental properties. The origins of

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5890-435: The bridge over MBTA Fitchburg Line, Weston are complete. The DCR paved the access road and installed safe road crossings in 2019. This section passes by the historic Wayland Freight House and Weston station . 🟠 0.3 miles (0.48 km) from before the bridge over MBTA Fitchburg Line, Weston to Jones Road, Waltham is under construction, known as Mass Central Rail Trail Waltham-Weston, Phase 1. This section will rehabilitate

5985-407: The bridge. It was built in 1894 and is a riveted lattice truss bridge on granite abutments. The Linden Street bridge project also includes sidewalk and railroad crossing improvements at Beaver Street. Construction bid was awarded, and construction is estimated to begin in spring 2025. In Hudson, the MCRT—Wayside connects with the Assabet River Rail Trail in Hudson. In Sudbury, it connects with

6080-553: The collective environments in this part of the division date back to the creation of the Metropolitan Park Commission in 1893, forming the first such regional system in the United States. (see Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston for history). Lands outside of the greater Boston area includes some 29 campgrounds , over 2,000 miles (3,200 km) of trails, 87 beaches, 37 swimming, wading, and spray pools, 62 playgrounds, 55 ballfields, 145 miles (233 km) of paved bike and rail trails and once private homes and estates that are now

6175-406: 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. This section is at 25% design. It will be designed in coordination with the 1265 Main Street Phase 2 mixed use development and roadway improvements project. The roadway improvement portion of the 1265 Main project will occur first, is planned for 2025, and will create

6270-485: The existing bridge over the MBTA Fitchburg Line . The bridge was built in 1896 and is a riveted lattice truss bridge on stone abutments. Construction funding was announced in 2023 and DCR issued a notice to proceed with construction in 2024. Construction is estimated to complete summer 2025. 🟣 0.5 miles (0.80 km) from Jones Road, Waltham to Hillside Road, Waltham is unimproved, known as Mass Central Rail Trail Waltham-Weston, Phase 2. This section will rehabilitate

6365-631: The help of partners, including road repairs occasionally implemented by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation at the request of DCR. Police protection has been provided by the Massachusetts Environmental Police and the Massachusetts State Police after the MDC's police department was merged into the State Police in 1992. The DCR also maintains its own Bureau of Ranger Services which provides for public safety, search & rescue, and enforces violations on DCR owned and managed property. In addition to partnering with state agencies, DCR coordinates with local and national volunteer organizations, such as

6460-405: The land at cost. This preserved the trail section, including three historic bridges that would otherwise would have been scrapped. The two largest bridges with steel superstructures received a 2023 MassTrails grant to replace the timber decking. 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

6555-431: The location of the former Clemantis Brook Station location, is complete. Waltham funded the approximately $ 9 million cost of construction of its section from City revenues. Construction began in 2022 and was substantially complete by September 2023. However, the Linden Street bridge rehabilitation has not begun, and therefore the two completed sections are not continuous. The timber trestle bridge over Clemantis Brook

6650-413: The longest in Massachusetts. In July 2020, the state awarded $ 112,000 for purchase of this section, which completed in December 2020. 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. A further $ 397,000 MassTrails grant in 2022 will complete planning for the tunnel, and begin planning for

6745-477: The negative 1997 Town vote. Weston assisted by forming a Rail Trail Committee and made recommendations, constructed the Conant Road underpass not included with DCR's funding, officially stated thanks to DCR and Eversource for their contributions to the trail, and now supports the completion of the entire MCRT. In Hudson, Stow, Marlborough, and Sudbury, in 2015 ISO New England issued a Greater Boston area needs assessment, directing utility companies to investigate

6840-683: The optional process of railbanking. In 2014, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) determined the trail did not require further Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act review, simplifying permitting. 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 . In 2016, BECo's successor, Eversource , filed permits to build

6935-487: 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, and is a subsection of what is also named the Mill Street Rail Trail . The ROW is the northern semicircle of the trail system, and trail detours on the east and west ends were built to complete the MCRT here. This section

7030-672: The rail ROW, naming it the Massachusetts Central Rail Trail to promote the idea of a state-wide trail network. In 1996, the first plans to build out the MCRT from Berlin to Belmont on the MBTA's ROW 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 from Berlin to Waltham. This work inspired other communities and land trusts to begin to build out their own sections of

7125-462: The remainder of the trail east to the Berlin Town line. 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. A 2024 MassTrails grant was awarded to construct Phase 1, access points at Rauscher Farm and 447 Berlin Street, and trail development between these two locations. In Berlin the rail ROW is unimproved. It

7220-414: The substations. Prior efforts for a locally funded trail had already lost momentum, and with the news of a possibility to build the trail without local funding, Sudbury officials and a Town vote decided against continuing local funding efforts to accelerate a proposed trail build with a crushed stone surface first. By November 2015, Sudbury and Hudson officials requested Eversource consider undergrounding

7315-486: The title MCRT . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MCRT&oldid=1244043687 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Mass Central Rail Trail The Massachusetts Central Railroad

7410-536: The towns in the order Hudson-Stow-Hudson-Marlborough-Sudbury. 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, built in 1881. Over time, it had 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 were replaced by prefabricated structural steel truss bridges in 2024. Bridge 128, also over Hop Brook in Sudbury,

7505-474: The trail by large margins. However, a follow up Weston Special Town meeting voted 698 against and 410 in favor, which derailed progress on the Wayside Rail Trail for at least two decades. 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. By 2010, the DCR executed a 99-year lease with the MBTA to build what

7600-485: The trail required. 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. Designed and permitted in partnership with the DCR, the project built a gravel sub-base for the future trail and grass shoulders, restored or rebuilt three trail bridges, built

7695-713: The trail was widened to 10 feet (3.0 m) in line with newer MassDOT guidance for minimum shared use path width. 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 Bikeway , is maintained by the City of Northampton. It was formerly the New Haven & Northampton Company Williamsburg Branch , not part of

7790-520: The transmission lines along the MBTA ROW. By February 2016, Eversource identified an underground design under the MBTA ROW and under Hudson roads. By January 2017, the MBTA negotiated an options agreement with Eversource for this underground route only, at the cost of forgoing approximately $ 2 million compared to an overhead option, and requiring Eversource to work with DCR to create a trail. In turn, in April 2017, when Eversource sought project approval from

7885-466: Was a B&M station at the Dutton Road crossing for which the MCRT—Wayside is named. The ETA of Phase 2 construction is Spring 2025. 🟣 1.4 miles (2.3 km) from the Sudbury substation to Route 20 , Wayland are unimproved. This section is currently at 25% design and funded to construct a paved trail. The ETA for the start of construction is Spring 2027. There is a timber trestle bridge over

7980-535: Was awarded for design of this section. This section includes a timber trestle bridge over Bruce's Pond used by pedestrians but unimproved. 🟢 0.75 miles (1.21 km) from Priest Street, Hudson to Wilkins Street, Hudson, is complete and shared with the Assabet River Rail Trail (ARRT). This section of the ARRT opened in 2005 and is maintained by the Town of Hudson. The trail sharing arraignment

8075-423: Was built in 1881. It is a riveted plate deck girder bridge with granite abutments and timber piers. It received a new timber deck and railing, preserving the girders, piers, cross frames, and the majority of the abutments. A new precast arch pedestrian tunnel was installed under Chestnut Street in Hudson. This section passes by South Sudbury station adjacent to the former railroad crossing, with tracks forming

8170-547: Was completed from Boston to Northampton. The railroad faced various challenges over its history, including a fatal blow to the complete route by the Hurricane of 1938 which severed the middle 24 miles (39 km) from Oakdale to Wheelright . This reduced the Central Mass Branch to the eastern side and created the Wheelright Branch to the west, and over time both branches continued to reduce service. In 1964,

8265-491: Was finally renamed the Mass Central Rail Trail—Wayside , combining the Wayside name with the future vision of a trail from Boston to Northampton. The MCRT—Wayside lease is 23 miles (37 km) from Berlin to Waltham. Under the terms of the lease, the MBTA retains the right to reactivate commuter rail. This arrangement is not railbanking because the MBTA neither began the required precondition of abandonment nor consented to

8360-575: Was formed in 1869 and envisioned a 104 miles (167 km) railroad from Boston to Northampton. By 1882 it was providing passenger service from Boston 48 miles (77 km) to Jefferson , but went bankrupt in 1883. It was succeeded by the Central Massachusetts Railroad , which was leased by the Boston and Maine Railroad in 1887, naming it the Central Massachusetts Branch. Later that year, the route

8455-551: Was formed in 2003 under Governor Mitt Romney , when the former Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) and Department of Environmental Management (DEM) were merged to form the DCR. The DCR is under the general management of the Commissioner of the DCR. The general administration divisions; Human Resources Division, the Financial Division, and External and Legislative Affairs, report directly to the Commissioner. DCR

8550-410: Was formed with the goal of building and maintaining the trail. The rail ROW heads roughly southeast through Belchertown. Most sections are cleared but unimproved but protected and used by pedestrians and snowmobiles. 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

8645-508: Was never part of the Massachusetts Central Railroad or Central Massachusetts Railroad and is not included in the 104 miles (167 km) tally. This trail is owned by the DCR and maintained by Wachusett Greenways. The Wachusett Reservoir section of the trail is DCR property. From the yellow DCR gate numbered 39 on Route 110 and S Meadow Road in Clinton, the 1.1 miles (1.8 km) former railroad ROW, including

8740-488: Was originally expected to complete in December 2019, however the start of construction was pushed to October 2022 and will complete by the end of 2024, due to an unexpectedly lengthy permitting process. From 2017 to 2022, many lawsuits and petitions were filed by the Town of Sudbury and various abutters alleging the overlapping and jointly permitted construction suffered from varied legal defects, including allegations that

8835-627: Was quickly renamed the Wayside Rail Trail by the Wayside Rail Trail Committee, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, as the Wayside Inn / Wayside Inn Railroad Waiting Room was a B&M station at the crossing with Dutton Road. All seven municipalities from Berlin to Belmont (excepting Bolton, Stow, and Marlborough, as their shortest sections were expected to be bundled with their surrounding sections) initially approved

8930-472: Was reduced to Hudson station in 1958, and while subsidized by the MBTA starting in 1964, the final passenger train on the Marlborough Branch ran in 1965. The MBTA's 1976/1977 purchase/acquisition of various ROWS included the Marlborough Branch along with the Central Mass Branch. B&M ran the final freight train to Hudson on the Marlborough Branch in 1980. All 23 miles (37 km) of

9025-688: Was rehabilitated with new decking and timber bridge railings, stone abutments, and concrete piles. This section passes by Waltham Highlands station . Past Linden Street, it is an example of rails with trails with the MBTA Fitchburg Line. 🟠 120 feet (37 m) of the Linden Street bridge rehabilitation in-between the completed main Waltham section has not begun. Waltham received matching MassTrails grants in 2022 and 2023 to fund construction, however DCR eventually decided to reconstruct

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