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At the Tuesday, March 25 meeting of the Sudbury Select Board, the board voted 4-0 to send a letter of of support to finish the Mass Central Rail Trail to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. (Page 20)
Select Board Vice Chair, Dan Carty, recused from the conversation as an abutter to the trail, and requested that his signature not appear on the letter.
The draft letter in the meeting packet stated:
“Dear Commonwealth Leaders:
We are writing to express our strong support for the Mass Central Rail Trail (MCRT) and encourage continued efforts to complete this important multi-use path. The MCRT builds on the historic legacy of the Massachusetts Central Railroad, now a 104-mile corridor that serves as a vital artery connecting 26 communities from Boston to Northampton. Sudbury has already seen the tremendous recreational and
economic benefits from the nearly completed Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Phase 2D, which intersects with the MCRT near Route 20/Boston Post Road, and understands the importance of completing that portion of the MCRT in Sudbury, which will soon be completed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation this year.
The completed trail will offer remarkable economic, health, and environmental benefits to Massachusetts communities and residents. Studies estimate that a fully realized MCRT will boost the local economy by $212 million annually, attract 5 million new visitors, and create nearly 1,000 jobs. As it stands today, over 60 miles of the trail are already complete, with 12 additional miles currently under construction; however,
support is essential to complete key gaps in the route, such as the current gap through the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and over the Sudbury River which connects the MCRT in Sudbury to the MCRT in Wayland, and to allow the MCRT to connect seamlessly with the other major trails like the Assabet River Rail Trail and the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.
We ask that you continue efforts to complete the MCRT. Please take time to walk or ride along the trail, listen to the voices of your constituents, and recognize the transformative potential of this project. Public commitment to the MCRT’s completion is critical to fulfilling this vision and making Massachusetts a leader in sustainable infrastructure.
The MCRT is more than just a trail; it serves as an enduring connection between people and places, a lifeline for health and economic vitality, and a crucial investment in a cleaner, healthier, and more connected future. Together, we can and should Finish the Mass Central Rail Trail.
Sincerely,
Town of Sudbury Select Board”
The meeting packet also included a memo from Town Manager Andy Sheehan. Sheehan informed the board that Eversource is expected to complete their work on the corridor between April 20 and May 9. He also noted that the low bidder for rail trail construction is the same contractor that worked with Eversource during the initial phase of the project to install the underground transmission line.
Sheehan went on to say “A pre-construction meeting for the MCRT is scheduled for this week. DCR officially takes over the corridor on April 1. Work – primarily paving – is expected to commence shortly thereafter. Primary completion of the MCRT is targeted for June 30, though some work will continue through the end of the calendar year. No date has been set for the official opening of the trail to the public.”
