Building out the longest rail trail in New England.
Rail Trail Newsletter #84 - December 2023
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After nearly 30 years of being under development, two projects are finally coming to a conclusion.
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The old RR bridges over Rt 128/I-95 and over the Fitchburg Commuter Rail at Weston-Waltham are now funded to be upgraded and finished for the MCRT.
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Southampton Greenway trail advancing, at long last
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More detailed information about the N-S trail can be seen at the site for the umbrella group. New Haven & Northampton Canal Greenway.
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This new trail is open year-round in Poughkeepsie Nickie Hayes, Poughkeepsie Journal
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CT city boosts efforts for trail linking to ECG. It’s about much more than recreation. By KENNETH R. GOSSELIN gosselin@courant.com Hartford Courant
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East Midtown Greenway Opens To Huge Crowd And Rave Reviews
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How a rail trail sparked a fight pitting outdoor recreation against rare species By Amanda Gokee, Globe
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3 of America's picturesque hiking trails are now considered national parks, and one of them cuts through Massachusetts.
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Here's what is being developed in the SW region of NH. Just over the border from Mass.
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Monadnock Region, NH Rail Trail Collaborative Annual Report.
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The Dutch love to cycle. So much so that there are more than 35,000 km (over 21,747 miles) of cycle paths
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Cape boating, fishing, biking contribute millions to state's outdoor recreation economy by Denise Coffey Cape Cod Times
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A couple of more stories about entrepreneurs opening their businesses near the trail
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Mike Switzer interviews Mary Walsh, co-founder of Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery in Greenville, SC.
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​Rail Trail Flatbread Co. opens 2nd restaurant, investing in Milford, Mass.
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Rail Trail Newsletter #83 - November 2023
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Clinton Greenway Conservation Trust recently installed a nice descriptive plaque on one of the milemarkers along their section of the MCRT
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WESTON, MA — Weston police are investigating a fabricated stabbing that supposedly happened Tuesday afternoon along the Weston section of the Mass Central Rail Trail
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Here's a link to the entire Golden Spike conference. All 2.25 hours of the indoor section. This was filmed by the Town of Natick's Cable Access
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Here's a link to a "Highlight Reel", a 17 minute video by Reelife Productions of Williamsburg
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A recent BIKE TALK Podcast by Nick Reichert was about GS2023
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The MCRT under-construction in Hudson will soon cross beneath Chestnut St. by way of a brand new tunnel
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Guest editorial: Connected trails in VT can provide recreation and economic prosperity
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East Bay Bike Path bridges in RI are finally getting replaced, but will fishermen lose out?
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Quietly and slowly, but underway right now, is a rebranding of the longest interstate trail in New England, to have only one name instead of 12.
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NH Seacoast Greenway and more trails to unseen Portsmouth to be completed in 2024
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The City of Keene NH has recently started work on the federally funded Transportation Heritage Trail (Phase I) project.
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Adirondack, NY Rail Trail small business grant proposals being sought.
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$223,478 State Grant Secured For Farmington River Rail Trail Project.
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Reduce. Reuse. Remediate? The clean-up of abandoned industrial lots
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All aboard the Cambridge ‘bike bus,’ where parents and kids find strength in numbers as they bike to school
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How bad is Boston traffic? It’s on the sidewalk now.
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Think you need another car? Consider an e-bike instead.
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Since the fall of 2019, this writer has biked his groceries home roughly 50 times.
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Cycling TV Journalist Orla Chennaoui Defends Her Choice Not to Wear a Helmet
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To be clear, she's based in Amsterdam
Rail Trail Newsletter #82 - October 2023
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Ware River Park officially opens in Gilbertville section of Hardwick
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The Mass Central Rail Trail's Norwottuck branch's closed tunnel under Rt 9 now has a prim-and-proper detour around the construction
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Tunnel on Hadley Rail Trail reopens....And what about the curve at the new, eastern end?
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Letter: Construction Around Rail Trail Underpass Requires Special Attention To Sight Lines by Rob Kusner.
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SWAMPSCOTT SETTLES ON BIKE PATH PROJECT
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Massachusetts Bicycle Commuter Benefits Signed Into Law!
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Trail up CT's spine charts a new path
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Letter to Hugh Bailey describing the bigger picture issues that were not mentioned in his piece.
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Infographic that shows the 3 passenger rail stations on these two corridors that could allow trail users to get back to their starting point via rail.
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Do communities form trails”¦ or do trails form communities?
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The bright future of the Pedestrian Bridge.
Rail Trail Newsletter #81 - September 2023
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WAMC an NPR station out of Albany NY area picks up the story and interviews Paul Jahnige about this new Office of Outdoor Recreation
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Healey-Driscoll Administration Names Director of Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation
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From building trails to opening doors: Williamsburg’s Paul Jahnige named state’s outdoor recreation chief.
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MCRT Kiosk Dedicated at Gibbs Crossing, Ware
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Another section-- 5/8 mile opening on 9-26 in Gilbertville.
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The Mass Central Rail Trail's Norwottuck branch is the only ADA-accessible route across the Town of Hadley,
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Hadley Rail Trail work shuts popular commute route for cyclists
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A photo essay about the Bruce Freeman and the Mass Central Rail Trails in Sudbury by Len Simon.
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The Rail Trails Advisory Committee (RTAC) did a walking/driving tour on the Mass Central Rail Trail (MCRT)
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Westfield marks completion of the 25-year effort for Columbia Greenway Rail Trail
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Upgrade underway on Bennington, VT Pathway
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Ribbon Cut on Williamstown's Mohican Trail
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Natick's 1st Accessible Cycling Event Comes To Cochituate Rail Trail
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Studios Without Walls: art exhibit featured along the Cochituate Rail Trail
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State Advisory Council endorses the Merrymeeting Trail!
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Woonasquatucket River Green-way a Slice of Nature in an Urban Setting
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Pontevedra, Spain, offers some of the best evidence available about what happens when a city is reconfigured to accommodate people, rather than cars.
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Guest columnist - Shock and horror (mostly horror) about the new so-called redesign of Main Street Northampton.
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Newburyport, MA took hundreds of prime waterfront parking spots to expand a park, prompting a major controversy.
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Rail Trail Newsletter #80 - August 2023
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WALK MASSACHUSETTS has invited me to be the September speaker at their monthly webinar series.
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Historic Northampton asked me to do a hybrid presentation. In-person and on Zoom. 9-2
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Kevin LaHaise of Sudbury publishes a free weekly e-newsletter about happenings in Sudbury.
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Here's a quick one-pager, recent update on plans in Sudbury.
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Our 9th GOLDEN SPIKE CONFERENCE will be held on Saturday 10-14-23 at the AMVETs facility at 79 Superior Dr. Natick.
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After almost 30 years of advocacy, rail trail will link Standish to Fryeburg,
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Gov. Mills authorizes Fryeburg-to-Standish rail trail
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Update about happenings in CT from the East Coast Greenway.
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The Emerald Network builds on this portfolio of 100 miles of greenways to create a seamless 200+ mile network across the urban core
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Hometown Hero: The long and winding road in Concord, NH is off and running
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Train wheel benches grace Danvers Rail Trail
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Another recent story about the Concord Lake Sunapee Rail trail.
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Le Gal’s new collection “Art Inspired by the New Lynn Bike Path” at Galleries at LynnArts will premiere Thursday, Aug. 31,
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Fun fall excursion - 5 Covered RR bridges on rail trails in Northern New England.
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Awe-inspiring bicycle infrastructure around the world
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The best cities to fall in love with the bicycle all over again
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California Cities taking the initial steps to reign-in speeding e-bikes
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PEOPLE FOR BIKES 2023 List of the Most Bike-Friendly Cities is Out. Topping the list this year is PROVINCETOWN, MA
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Rail Trail Newsletter #79 - July 2023
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A VISION COMING TRUE: Study finds 104-mile rail trail connecting Northampton-Boston would generate millions, increase health
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Norwottuck Network backs completion of Mass. Central Rail Trail system
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Waltham Gets $500K Grant For Linden Street Bridge Restoration
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A study initiated by the Norwottuck Network to assess the benefits of the completion of the Massachusetts Central Rail Trail
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Episode 170: July 10, 2023 - Joe Bednar talks about the MCRT with Craig Della Penna.
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2 lectures coming up in September 9-20-23 @ 1:00 PM, a Zoom webinar for Walk Massachusetts, 9-27-23 @ 7:00 PM, in-person and on Zoom at Historic Northampton.
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SAVE THE DATE!! Our 9th GOLDEN SPIKE CONFERENCE will be held on Saturday 10-14-23 at the AmVets facility at 79 Superior Dr. Natick.
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Deal reached to extend Twin Cities Rail Trail to downtown Leominster
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Inside North Central Massachusetts: On The Trail at the Twin Cities Rail Trail.
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Ron Chick and Mary Kate Feeney from Framingham are going to be tour leaders for TOUR 6 at the Golden Spike 2023 conference in Natick on Oct 14, 2023.
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Hometown Hero: The long and winding road in Concord, NH is off and running.
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Westfield physician is bicycling from Pacific to Atlantic to benefit rail trail
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Another Gap's Gone On the Northern Strand Trail In Everett, MA
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New rail trail bridge in Slingerlands, NY buckles during construction
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As Downtowns Struggle, Businesses Learn to Love Bike Lanes
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Corporate Landscaping tries something different.
Rail Trail Newsletter #78 - June 2023
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Important and compelling report was released. with a survey
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Community Path in Somerville opens on June 10, 2023
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NH DOT's Derry Rail Trail design drops a tunnel - and users' hopes for safety
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MassDOT Announces New Interactive Priority Trails Network Vision Map for Statewide Shared-Use Paths
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Looking for a fun place to go on a hike? --The Keystone Arch Bridges
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On Cape Cod, half of this highway is being turned into a bike path to connect Provincetown, MA, to the beach
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Walking the Wachusett Aqueduct in Northborough brings history to life
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Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Over $11 Million in Grant Funding for 68 Trail Improvement Projects in Massachusetts.
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Governor Phil Scott and Senator Bernie Sanders to Celebrate the Newly Completed Lamoille Valley Rail Trail.
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Vermont Gov. Phil Scott saddles up on Sat, July 15, for a 93-mile bike ride to celebrate the official opening of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail.
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The newly opened Shining Tides mile of the Mattapoisett Rail Trail is part of the South Coast Bikeway.
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City of Fall River completes extension of Alfred J. Lima Quequechan River Rail Trail
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Leave a Legacy: Build a Trail - Older adults are working together to leave a lasting legacy of scenic trails
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Santa Monica’s Ocean Ave Protected Bikeway Installation Captures the World’s Attention
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US Cities Are Failing Their Female Cyclists
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Installing bike racks can also heavily benefit your local business
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Boston Mayor Wu Admin Announces ‘Safety Surge’ of Traffic Calming for Neighborhood Street.
Rail Trail Newsletter #77 - May 2023
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THE REPORT and a 1 page summary of the Statewide Connections Benefits Report
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Benefits of shared use paths
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Cambridge Crossing arrives after two decades. It was worth the wait.
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Slide presentation showing construction in Sudbury on both the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and the Mass Central Rail Trail
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MBTA In Court Over Lawsuit Involving Mass Central Rail in Sudbury
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Unresolved Accessibility Issues Push Somerville Community Path Opening to Mid-June
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SAVE THE DATE!! Our 9th GOLDEN SPIKE CONFERENCE will be held on Saturday 10-14-23
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Compelling Letter by Craig Della Penna to Maine about the Mt. Division trail.
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FRIENDS OF THE SOUTHAMPTON GREENWAY Meeting for 2023!!
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The Northern Strand Trail Is Growing In Lynn and Everett
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Fall River is building more rail trail, with a goal to connect Cape Cod to RI by bike
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Europe just got its first solar-covered cycling path
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During the pandemic, cities opened their streets to pedestrians. So what now?
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​Rail Trail Newsletter #76 - March 2023
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MBTA Seeks Dismissal Of Lawsuit That Could Stall Mass Central Rail Trail
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3 Major MetroWest Trail Projects Are Under Construction In 2023
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LOOKING FOR A FUN FAMILY ACTIVITY? SATURDAY, APRIL 22 FROM 10-2. "PARK SERVE DAY"
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Our interactive MCRT map is coming back to life.
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SAVE THE DATE!! Our 9th GOLDEN SPIKE CONFERENCE will be held on Saturday 10-14-23
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LYNN/NAHANT BIKE LANES MAPPED OUT
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Westfield City Council asked to sign letter joining the 81- mile rail trail
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The Mattapoisett Bike Path - Bike Path Boardwalk Opening Soon
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Officials on Cape Cod Now Open To Removing Rail Line For Bike Path
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Legislative Budget writers back NH DOT in Derry rail trail dispute
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UNPAVED TRAILS FOR ALL.
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Northfield seeks $12.5M federal grant to replace Schell Bridge
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Keeping the Cochituate Rail Trail in Natick tidy
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Vigil for Crash Victims Amplifies Need for Safer Streets in Springfield
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Chicopee suffers third fatal pedestrian accident on one Chicopee Street since November
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​Rail Trail Newsletter #75 - February 2023
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Sadly, we have to report that our friend, Tom Kelleher suddenly and unexpectedly passed away
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Lawsuit Over Sudbury Eversource, Rail Trail Project Dismissed By Judge
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Mass Central Rail Trial Economic Study with Kittelson & Associates is still under-development
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The Town of Ware is building a kiosk dedicated to Steven Hawk
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Magazine article by Craig Della Penna related to rail trails and living next to one.
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Leominster and Fitchburg’s New Rail-Trail Gets Creative With Winter Maintenance
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Lamoille Valley Rail Trail expects to open mid 2023
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Op-ed piece from 2003, for the Hardwick, VT Newspaper, that talked about why the railroad wasn't economically viable anymore and why it needed to become a trail.
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Another editorial by Atty. Hans Huessy in the Stowe, VT newspaper, 15+ years later, in 2019 and the trail still wasn't built.
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As the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail nears completion, northern Vt. towns prepare for tourists
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Danville's 151-year-old train station is getting a makeover
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Maine State council backs the creation of a new rail trail between Auburn and Portland
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Revival: The Story of the Minuteman Bikeway
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Here's where the well loved Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is heading next in Pittsfield
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Schumer Launches Major Push For New Funding-YONKERS
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Five Covered RR Bridges are still standing on some rail trails in VT and NH.
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And here is Tim Blagden and his wife and daughter on the Concord & Lake Sunapee Rail Trail in NH.
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Long Island Greenway May Roll Through South Fork: 175-mile route would be like Empire State Trail
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The Open Space Institute unveils Ambitious Growing Greenways Plan
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City of Springfield Wins $15 Million to Improve Street Safety Citywide
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​Rail Trail Newsletter #74 - January 2023
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Clinton trail development work is in process!
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Feds Decline Sudbury Rail Line Case, Opponents Say They 'Can Prevail'
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Friends of the Belchertown Greenway felt it was necessary to take a look at the old trestle bridge over the Jabish Brook
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Maine DOT unveils a series of plans across their entire spectrum of realms.
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Rail trail running through Dutchess and Columbia Counties in eastern NY gets $375,000 grant
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$3 Million earmarked for the BFRT's new Framingham segment
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Trails caucus to be re-launched in state Legislature BOSTON
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6,000 days later: Framingham on track to buy corridor for rail trail
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Framingham Mayor Finalizes Purchase Of 3.5 Miles For Freeman Rail Trail
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Who Doesn't Want A Bike Path On Wauwinet Road, Nantucket? Wauwinet Property Owners
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The big news in this issue is that Southampton has purchased their dead RR
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Westfield rail trail’s downtown extension on track for spring opening
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3 new segments of VT's Lamoille Valley Rail Trail open
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National Trade Magazine for the electrical utility industry talking about a need to put a lot of the grid underground.
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Eversource installing electric cables under the Shining Sea Trail in Falmouth this winter.