Talk:Assabet River Rail Trail

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Trail Status as of 2016 thru August 2018

South end, 5.1 miles, completed September 2005. North end, 3.4 miles, starts construction summer of 2016 and completion expected spring 2018. Middle section - in Stow - has a planned length of 4.0 miles and no construction plans yet. There is a major problem: when MBTA gave up rights to the right-of-way to the individual towns, the towns in turn sold parts to private parties. Maynard had to purchase back small parcels or seize by eminent domain. In Stow, a large portion was sold to Honey Pot Hill Orchard. This family business does not want to sell the land to Stow or allow use via a long-term lease. Other portions are also privately owned. Until use of the right-of-way can be negotiated there can be no progress on applying for federal and state funding for completion of the Trail.

Progress has been made in negotiating access for construction of the Stow section from the Maynard/Stow border westward to Sudbury Road (currently a dirt road known as Track Road). The owners allow public access for non-motorized use (on foot or bicycles). This two mile portion could be the next section paved and incorporated into the Trail. For the remainder, two alternatives are under consideration. One would use the shoulders of existing roads - Sudbury Road and Route 62, to connect the ends. The other would proceed south through the center of the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge to reach a different abandoned railroad right of way, and then proceed west to reach the existing end on Route 62 in Hudson. The end result would be a longer, very scenic Assabet River Rail Trail - an advantage for recreational users, but an inconvenience for people who want to bicycle commute between the north end of Acton and Maynard and the south end of Marlborough and Hudson.David notMD (talk) 10:40, 3 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

August 2017: Paving and landscaping almost complete from Stow:Maynard border to past the Maynard:Acton border. North, construction continues. A boardwalk section north of the Paper Store building on Route 27 nearing completion. David notMD (talk) 21:46, 2 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]

April 2018: two sections in Maynard, about 100 yards each, not yet finished. David notMD (talk) 00:26, 5 May 2018 (UTC)[reply]

August 2018: Maynard completed and ribbon-cutting ceremony held at Acton trailhead. This completed the 3.4 miles of the north end. David notMD (talk) 19:47, 27 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]