The document discusses the Bay Colony Rail Trail project which aims to convert an inactive 7-mile rail corridor between Medfield and Needham, MA into a multi-use recreational trail. It provides background on rail trails, outlines the typical development process which can take decades, and discusses benefits such as increased health, transportation, and environmental protection. The document encourages readers to experience existing rail trails and get involved with the Bay Colony Rail Trail project.

2. Manhan Rail Trail, Easthampton, MA What is the Bay Colony Rail Trail? Background on rail-trails Rail-trail exploration and development process Current status of BCRT Questions and concerns Itinerary

3. Needham: 2 miles from Needham Junction to the Charles River. Dover: 3.5 miles from the Charles River to Hunt Drive. Medfield: 1.5 miles to Harding Street. Overview The Bay Colony Rail Trail project is focused on the inactive rail corridor between Medfield and Needham. The entire segment is 7 miles:

4. A Rail-Trail is a Linear Park Pere Marquette Rail-Trail, Midland, Michigan A rail-trail is the conversion of a inactive railway into a multi-use recreational path. Rail-trails offer a safe place for walking, jogging, cycling, crosscountry skiing, or horseback riding. Rail-trails can be asphalt, crushed stone, cinder, or just plain dirt. In Massachusetts, there are: 103 active rail-trail projects Dozens of completed rail-trails

5. Cape Cod Rail Trail Wellfleet-Dennis, 22 miles Nashua River Rail Trail Ayer-Nashua, 12.3 miles Minuteman Bikeway Arlington-Bedford, 11 miles Shining Sea Bikeway Falmouth-Woods Hole, 10.7 miles Norwottuck Rail Trail Northampton-Belchertown, 10 mi. Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Chelmsford-Westford, 6.8 miles Assabet River Rail Trail Marlborough-Acton, 5.6 miles Popular Rail-Trails in Mass. Cape Cod Rail Trail

6. Health : more recreation and nature opportunities. Transportation / Livability : improved viable and safe transportation routes. Environment : choosing active transportation reduces your carbon miles. Open Space Protection : Trails preserve and maintain natural settings. Community Identity : Trails create civic pride and engender neighborliness. Rail Trail Benefits Rail Trail between Dover and Portsmouth, NH

7. No Two Rail Trails are the Same Each community defines its own requirements in terms of: Surface (paved or not) Landscaping Barriers Accessibility Rules Each town defines its own approach to handling things like: Parking Animals (dogs, horses) Motorized vehicles (e.g. ATVs) Assabet River Rail Trail, Stowe

8. Rail Trail projects are often measured in decades, not years. Bruce Freeman (left) took 21 years just to complete Phase 1. The fastest Rail Trail project in Massachusetts to date is 6 years. Avoiding state bureaucracy helps Wachusett Greenway is moving well through volunteerism. A Rail Trail project cannot succeed without support from each community. It takes time to earn that support, to define a trail that works for each community. This is a Long Road... Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, Chelmsford, MA

9. Step 1: Conduct feasibility study. 6 - 12 months. Negotiate lease from the MBTA and remove the rail. 12 - 18 months Then... begin the recreational trail funding / grant process. If it's a paved trail, expect five years to get federal funding. Avoiding federal funding, a rail trail can be built at a pace of 1/2 mile per year. Typical Rail Trail Timeline Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, MA

10. Experience a rail-trail yourself. Listing at: www.traillink.com Research Rail-trails at the Bruce Freeman site: www.brucefreemanrailtrail.org Visit our web site to get involved. www.baycolonyrailtrail.org Let us know your specific concerns: [email_address] Some Next Steps for You... Minuteman Trail, Lexington, MA

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