The Mass Central Rail Trail (MCRT) is an envisioned 104-mile off-road shared use trail connecting Boston to Northampton along the former Central Massachusetts Railroad corridor. Today, approximately 60 miles of the vision have been realized as fully developed rail trail. DCR does not have property rights on the entire corridor but is building out the Wayside section in partnership with other entities.
The MCRT – Wayside:
In 2011, The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) executed a lease with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) for approximately 20 miles of the former railroad corridor from Waltham to Berlin for the purpose of designing and developing a multi-use rail trail. Since 2011, DCR has been working with communities and partners to develop a 10-foot wide shared use path along this entire corridor. The corridor passes through Waltham, Weston, Wayland, Sudbury, and Hudson with small pieces in Bolton and Stow. It will one day connect east to Belmont and Boston, and west to Clinton and beyond to Northampton.
Project Status
September 2024
The MCRT Wayside consists of a number of sub-segments in various stages of planning and development.
Beaver Street, Waltham to Route 117/Hillside Road: Complete, built by City of Waltham with the exception of the rehabilitation of the Linden Street bridge, which will be done by DCR. Anticipated start date spring 2025.
Route 117/Hillside Road to railroad bridge on the Waltham-Weston Line: Phase 1 (bridge rehabilitation and segment to Jones Road in Waltham) currently under construction. Remainder in design by DCR but timeline is uncertain due to status of major planned roadway infrastructure at Green Street, Stow Street, and Route 117. Anticipated completion date for Phase 1 is summer 2025.
Railroad bridge to Route 126, Wayland: Complete, built by DCR in collaboration with Eversource and the municipalities, opened 2019.
Route 126, Wayland to Sudbury Substation: Under design by DCR for construction by MassDOT. Eastern portion, originally built by Town of Wayland, will be reconstructed.
Sudbury Substation to Wilkins Street, Hudson/Connection to Assabet River Rail Trail: DCR is completing design of this segment, with anticipated construction in spring 2025.
Through its MassTrails grant program DCR is supporting the towns of Hudson and Berlin in their efforts to complete the remainder of the Wayside segment through those municipalities.