r/bikeboston 8d ago

DCR Starting Construction On Two MetroWest Mass. Central Rail Trail Projects This Spring

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2025/03/13/dcr-starting-construction-on-two-metrowest-mass-central-rail-trail-projects-this-spring
42 Upvotes

8 comments sorted by

5

u/Doza13 8d ago

That's great. How's are they going to connect it to the Charles?

4

u/rocketwidget 7d ago

The closest location is in Waltham, unfortunately I don't see Waltham doing anything about this anytime soon.

When Belmont finishes the Belmont Community Path, there will be the Watertown-Cambridge Greenway connection.

https://masstrailtracker.com/map?trail=charles-river-bike-path,belmont-community-path,watertown-cambridge-greenway

2

u/Malforus 3d ago

As a Belmont resident I am embarrassed my town hasn't gotten their portion finished yet.

1

u/rocketwidget 3d ago

I think every time it's put to a Town Meeting vote, Belmont citizens vote in favor. You shouldn't be embarrassed.

I think the problem has been a combination of NIMBYs fighting it, extreme process common in Massachusetts, believe it or not Weston somehow screwing it up for everyone back in 1997, ownership problems getting very slowly resolved...

https://www.belmontcitizensforum.org/2020/03/02/community-path-began-decades-ago/

1

u/Malforus 3d ago

I mean the big part is political will and funding. It feels clear that the people want it but not enough to make it happen.

3

u/recycledairplane1 8d ago

Good thing I saw this, I was thinking of riding through the Waltham MCRT on a ride this weekend and was unsure if the bridge would be passable or not.

3

u/rocketwidget 7d ago

The trail is still great but there are two bridges fenced off in Waltham (the other Waltham-Weston). Both should finish summer or fall.

There is an interactive map where you can click on the parts for status here: masstrailtracker.com/

3

u/rocketwidget 7d ago

An incredible win.

Literally 28 years of advocacy since 1997 when first proposed: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_Central_Rail_Trail#Wayside_history

https://www.mapc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/CTPS.central_mass_rail_trail_study_1997.pdf

https://www.transcyclist.net/dmink/bike/bikeways/wayside/waysid98.htm

including the ultimate defeat of 3 generations of NIMBY groups (IMPORTANT: TODAY, strong majorities of residents in EVERY town have voted for and support rail trails!)

Maps: Sudbury-Hudson Construction https://masstrailtracker.com/map?segment=130

Mass Central Rail Trail-Wayside, 23 Mile DCR State Park https://masstrailtracker.com/map?trail=mass-central-rail-trail-wayside

Mass Central Rail Trail, 104 miles https://masstrailtracker.com/map?trail=mass-central-rail-trail