The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail is a work in progress. The
proposed trail from Lowell to Framingham is divided into
three phases. Each phase is being developed by the communities
through which is passes and with funds directed to each phase.
begins in Chelmsford at the Lowell/Chelmsford line, near Cross
Point, passes through Chelmsford Center, and ends at Rt. 225 in
Westford. This part of the trail covers a stretch of 6.8 miles.
MassHighway started the construction process on Phase 1 with a
preconstruction meeting in August 2007. The groundbreaking was held on
October 9. Construction is expected to be completed with the placement of
landscaping and fencing in August 2009. The trail is currently closed
to use. See the Phase 1 construction page for more information.
continues through Westford and goes through the communities of Carlisle, Acton, Concord and a portion of Sudbury, covering a stretch
of 13.1 miles. Several town meetings have discussed this part of the trail,
completed, set-aside and/or voted money for feasibility engineering
studies and preliminary design ("25% design" in MassHighway parlance). From
north to south they are:
- Westford, $20,000 for preliminary design
- Carlisle, $20,000 for preliminary design
- Acton, $25,000 for a feasibility study (completed), and
$452,000
for preliminary design
- Concord, ~$25,000 for a feasibility study (completed with
funds raised by the Friends), and $160,000 for preliminary design
- Sudbury, $25,000 for a feasibility study (completed), and
$145,000 for studies related to the preliminary design
For additional information on the Acton, Carlisle, and Westford section of Phase 2, view this update.
Additional information about the Route 2 crossing (Phase 2B in Acton and Concord) is available here.
For additional information on the Concord section of Phase 2, view this updateview this update.
completes the trail
going through Sudbury and Framingham for a total of 4.6 miles.
The State's Central Transportation Planning Staff recently completed a study of this section of the trail corridor. The study concluded that the trail is definitely feasible. Efforts are underway to acquire the right-of-way from the railroad company CSX..
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