Bruce Freeman Rail Trail
Introduction The '''Bruce Freeman Rail Trail''' is a partially-completed rail trail in Massachusetts. The path is a  paved multi-use trail, available for walking, running, biking, rollerblading, and other non-motorized uses. It follows the right-of-way of the disused Framingham and Lowell Line of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. The constructed route connects with the Bay Circuit Trail, and Phase 2D will connect with the Mass Central Rail Trail - Wayside. The total planned length of the trail—which will eventually run continuously between Lowell and Framingham—is just under . The trail is named for Bruce Freeman, a state representative from Chelmsford who was an early political support of the project. The trail is owned by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation from Lowell to South Sudbury. 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.In December 2022, Framingham signed a purchase-and-sale agreement with CSX to purchase the right-of-way in Framingham, and Framingham became the railbanking trail sponsor for this section in December 2023.The trail is maintained by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the communities through which the trail runs.
Construction Status The trail is divided into several phases of construction:*Phase 1:  in Lowell (starting at Cross Point Towers), Chelmsford, and Westford (ending at Route 225). This segment opened on August 29, 2009.In 2019, MassTrails awarded $180,000 for construction of a short connecting trail under the Lowell Connector. *Phase 2: :*Phase 2A:  through Westford, Carlisle, and Acton (Route 225) to just north of Route 2). This segment began construction in June 2015 and opened on April 3, 2018.:*Phase 2B:  in Acton and Concord, opened in May 2023 with a bridge spanning MA Route 2.:*Phase 2C:  from Commonwealth Avenue to Powder Mill Road in Concord, with a short discontinuity at West Concord station. This $7.2 million segment began construction in July 2017 and opened on September 27, 2019.:*Phase 2D:  from Powder Mill Road in Concord to the Mass Central Rail Trail - Wayside in Sudbury. Construction began in January 2023 and is expected to complete in early to mid 2024. *Phase 3:  from the Mass Central Rail Trail - Wayside to Route 9 in Framingham:  in Sudbury and  in Framingham. Framingham and Sudbury were awarded $648,000 in MassTrails grants in 2022 to design Phase 3.In 2023, Sudbury was awarded $192,000 in MassTrails grants to continue the design of Phase 3 from the 2D terminus in Sudbury to the Framingham town line. In 2023, Framingham signed a purchase and sale agreement with CSX for the Framingham segment.File:W,_Bruce_Freeman_Rail_Trail,_South_Chelmsford_MA.jpg|Approaching Maple Road, ChelmsfordFile:Bruce_Freeman_Rail_Trail,_East_Acton_MA.jpg|Mile marker, ActonFile:Bruce_Freeman_Rail_Trail_bridge_over_Route_2,_West_Concord_MA.jpg|Bridge over Route 2, ConcordFile:Bridge_over_the_Assabet_River,_Bruce_Freeman_Rail_Trail,_West_Concord_MA.jpg|Bridge over the Assabet River, ConcordFile:Junction_of_rail_trails_under_construction,_South_Sudbury_MA.jpg|Mass Central Rail Trail - Wayside Sudbury Phase 1 and Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Phase 2D construction
Proposed Trail Connections 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 to extend the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail's eventual southern terminus in Framingham to the existing Upper Charles River Rail Trail in Sherborn, Holliston, Milford, and Hopkinton, as well as the Bay Circuit Trail.A long term vision for the Concord River Greenway park in progress is to connect to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in Lowell.The proposed Boston-Worcester Air Line Trail (BWALT) would connect to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in Framingham.
References
External links *  Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail