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Bruce Freeman Rail Trail
Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in South Chelmsford
Length19.98 miles (32.15 km) open, just under 25 miles (40 km) when complete
Began construction2009
UseHiking, bicycling, inline skating, cross-country skiing
DifficultyEasy
SeasonYear-round
SurfacePaved
Right of wayFormer Framingham and Lowell Railroad
Maintained byLowell, Chelmsford, Westford, Carlisle, Acton, Concord, Sudbury, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail
Websitehttps://brucefreemanrailtrail.org/

The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (BFRT) is a partly completed rail trail in Massachusetts. The path is a 10-foot-wide (3.0 m) paved multi-use trail, available for walking, running, biking, rollerblading, and other non-motorized uses.[1] It follows the right-of-way of the abandoned Framingham and Lowell Line of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad.[2] The constructed route connects with the Bay Circuit Trail, and Phase 2D connects with the Mass Central Rail Trail—Wayside.[3] The total planned length of the trail—which will eventually run from Lowell to Framingham—is just under 25 miles (40 km).[1][2]

History

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By the 1980s, the former Framingham and Lowell Railroad from Lowell to South Sudbury, last operated by Penn Central, had been abandoned. Ownership of the ROW had passed to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Bruce Freeman, a state representative from Chelmsford, advocated converting the ROW to the Lowell-Sudbury Rail Trail in 1985 until his death in 1986. Freeman was inspired by the Cape Cod Rail Trail, and the Lowell–Sudbury Rail Trail was modeled on it. In 1987, a Massachusetts bill was proposed to create the trail and name it in honor of Bruce Freeman, which was signed into law in 1989.[4] This original 19.98-mile (32.15 km) trail was constructed in five phases from 2009 to 2025.[5][6]

An additional 4.6 miles (7.4 km) of the Framingham and Lowell Railroad line from South Sudbury to Framingham Center remained active; the final railroad owner became CSX in 1999. However, a freight train derailment in South Sudbury in 2000 caused CSX to begin abandonment proceedings. Sudbury and Framingham entered railbanking negotiations with CSX in 2001 to extend the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. Sudbury successfully railbanked the CSX corridor in 2020, and Framingham was successful in 2023.[7][8] Trail design in South Sudbury and Framingham is ongoing.

Maintenance

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The completed sections of trail are owned by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).[9] MassDOT built the trail, and takes care of serious issues.[10] The towns have primary responsibility for maintaining the rail trail, and the 501(c)(3) nonprofit group Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail assists the towns with maintenance.[11]

Completed sections

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The trail was divided into several phases of construction, and today 19.98 miles (32.15 km) are open:[2]

  • Phase 1: 6.8 miles (10.9 km) in Lowell, Chelmsford, and Westford (ending at Route 225). This segment opened on August 29, 2009. At the Lowell end, it begins at the Cross Point Towers, with a parking lot and a corrugated metal tunnel under Route 3.[1]
    • Connector Trail northern extension (under construction): In 2019, MassTrails awarded $180,000 for construction of a short connecting trail under the Lowell Connector.[12] In May 2024, this segment was under construction and was expected to be completed in summer 2024. It extends the trail from Cross Point Towers to the Target shopping plaza on Plain Street.[13]
    • Future northern extension: Trail advocates want a further extension, which would connect the BFRT to the Concord River Greenway to the east.[14][15] The first phase of the CRG was completed in 2022; in 2024, the City of Lowell was negotiating with property owners for an expansion.[13]
  • Phase 2A: 4.9 miles (7.9 km) through Westford, Carlisle, and Acton (Route 225) to just north of Route 2). Construction began in June 2015; the segment opened on April 3, 2018.[16][17]
  • Phase 2B: 0.88 miles (1.42 km) in Acton and Concord, opened in May 2023, with a bridge spanning Massachusetts Route 2.[5]
  • Phase 2C: 2.5 miles (4.0 km) from Commonwealth Avenue to Powder Mill Road in Concord, with a short jog through West Concord station, where bikes must be walked. Construction began in July 2017; this segment cost $7.2 million and opened on September 27, 2019.[18][19]
  • Phase 2D: 4.9 miles (7.9 km) from Powder Mill Road in Concord to the Mass Central Rail Trail—Wayside in Sudbury. Sudbury began planning this phase no later than 2004. Residents continually advocated it, secured at least Town Meeting votes in favor of construction, and supported a ballot-box vote in favor.[20][21] Construction began in January 2023, and the project was opened to public use "at your own risk" in June 2025. Sudbury expects MassDOT to finish the current contract and transfer responsibility for maintenance of the trail in September 2025. An official ribbon-cutting is expected to take place in late summer or early fall 2025.[6][22]

In progress sections

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A further 4.6 miles (7.4 km) of the trail are in design as Phase 3, from the Mass Central Rail Trail—Wayside in Sudbury to Pleasant Street in Framingham, and planned to be built in 3 sections.

  • 1.4 miles (2.3 km) from the Mass Central Rail Trail—Wayside, Sudbury to Eaton Road W, Framingham. In July 2020, MassTrails awarded Sudbury $300,000 to purchase the right-of-way from South Sudbury to the Framingham line, and Sudbury became the railbanking trail sponsor for this section in December 2020.[23][8] In 2022, Sudbury was awarded $240,000 in MassTrails grants for this design.[24] In 2023, Sudbury was awarded $192,000 in MassTrails grants to continue the design of this Phase 3 segment.[25] The 25% design is underway, and partial construction funding is on the draft Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization's Transportation Improvement Program for fiscal year 2029.[26] In 2024, a MassTrails grant for final design of this section was awarded.[27]

In 2022, Framingham was awarded a $408,000 grant for conceptual design of the trail in Framingham.[24] In December 2022, Framingham signed a purchase-and-sale agreement with CSX to purchase the right-of-way in Framingham.[28][29] Framingham became the railbanking trail sponsor for both Framingham sections in December 2023.[8]

  • 1.4 miles (2.3 km) from Eaton Road W, Framingham to Frost Street, Framingham. Also known as Framingham Phase 1, the 10% conceptual design is underway, the 25% design is targeted for summer 2025, and construction is estimated to start as early as 2028.[30] In 2024, a MassTrails grant for design and permitting in Framingham was awarded.[31]
  • 1.8 miles (2.9 km) from Frost Street, Framingham to Pleasant Street, Framingham, including the rehabilitation of two bridges over Grove Street and I-90. Also known as Framingham Phase 2, it is hoped construction will start within a year of Framingham Phase 1.[30]

Proposed connections

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The Mass Central Rail Trail—Wayside is under construction in Sudbury and estimated to complete in 2025, which will create a connection with the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.

The Upper Charles Trail Extension was proposed in 2022 by the Wellesley-based Solomon Foundation. It would connect the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail's southern terminus in Framingham with the existing Upper Charles River Rail Trail (passing through Sherborn, Holliston, Milford, and Hopkinton), as well as the Bay Circuit Trail.[32]

A long term vision for the Concord River Greenway Park in progress is to connect to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in Lowell.[33]

The proposed Boston-Worcester Air Line Trail (BWALT) would connect to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in Framingham.[34]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Lefferts, Jennifer Fenn (August 27, 2009). "Phase one of rail trail to open Sat". Boston Globe.
  2. ^ a b c "Bruce Freeman Rail Trail". Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.
  3. ^ "Existing and Proposed Facilities". Central Transportation Planning Staff. February 17, 2005 – via Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.
  4. ^ "About Bruce Freeman". Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Visit the Trail". Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. March 27, 2011. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Sudbury Information » Planning & Community Development". Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  7. ^ "Town of Sudbury Closes on CSX Corridor Acquisition". Sudbury, Massachusetts. December 17, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c Dinh, Mai (December 4, 2023). "Decision and Notice of Interim Trail Use or Abandonment, Docket No. AB 565 (Sub-No 1X)" (PDF). Surface Transportation Board. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  9. ^ "Rail Trail Acronyms". Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. January 13, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  10. ^ Smith, Margaret. "In Lowell, Bruce Freeman Rail Trail marks point of connection". Wicked Local. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  11. ^ "Rail Trail FAQs". Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. April 12, 2011. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  12. ^ "2019 MassTrails Grant Awards". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2019.
  13. ^ a b "Construction Projects". Lowell, Massachusetts. May 28, 2024.
  14. ^ Bruce Freeman Rail Trail
  15. ^ The Trail So Far
  16. ^ "Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Next Phase Moves Forward" (Press release). Massachusetts Department of Transportation. June 25, 2015.
  17. ^ Fenn Lefferts, Jennifer (April 4, 2018). "New section of Freeman rail trail opens". The Boston Globe. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  18. ^ "MassDOT, Concord Celebrate Bruce Freeman Rail Trail 2.5 Mile Extension" (Press release). Massachusetts Department of Transportation. July 14, 2017.
  19. ^ "MassDOT Celebrates Completion of Latest Phase of Bruce Freeman Rail Trail" (Press release). Massachusetts Department of Transportation. September 27, 2019.
  20. ^ "Town Meeting 2020 - Article 52. Expedite Completion of Design of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail". Sudbury, Massachusetts. September 12, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  21. ^ Simon, Len (September 12, 2020). "Article 52" (PDF). Sudbury, Massachusetts. p. 11. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  22. ^ "Sudbury- Concord- Bike Path Construction (Bruce Freeman Rail Trail)". Massachusetts Department of Transportation. June 16, 2025. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  23. ^ "2020 MassTrails Grant Awards". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. July 2020. p. 8.
  24. ^ a b "2022 MassTrails Awards (81 Projects)". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. June 2022. pp. 4, 8.
  25. ^ Massachusetts Trails Team (June 14, 2023). "2023 MassTrails Grant Awards". MassTrails. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  26. ^ Rasmussen, Marcia (May 9, 2024). "Update on Sudbury Rail Trail Projects" (PDF). Town of Sudbury. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  27. ^ "2024 MassTrails Grant Awards". MassTrails. June 21, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  28. ^ "6,000 days later: Framingham on track for rail trail". MetroWest Daily News. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  29. ^ "Fall/Winter 2023 Newsletter" (PDF). Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. November 11, 2023.
  30. ^ a b Gartenberg, Sharon Machlis (June 6, 2024). "Framingham District 2 - Framingham Bruce Freeman Trail Update". www.district2framingham.com. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  31. ^ "2024 MassTrails Grant Awards". MassTrails. June 21, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  32. ^ "Upper Charles Trail Extension". Solomon Foundation. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  33. ^ "Concord River Greenway Park". lowelllandtrust.org. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  34. ^ Town of Westborough / WDA Design Group (October 2021). "BWALT SHARED-USE PATH FEASIBILITY STUDY". Westborough Town Government. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
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