The Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT) is a recreational trail along a former railroad corridor that runs approximately 22 miles from the Franklin State Forest on the east, to the Douglas State Forest on the west. It passes through the towns of Franklin, Bellingham, Blackstone, Millville, Uxbridge and Douglas; and is one of the longest rail-trails in southern Massachusetts. The trail corridor is owned by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Most of the trail is currently gravel surface and is used by a variety of recreational users. DCR is actively working in partnership with towns and other trail stakeholders to maintain and improve the trail surface. A 3.7-mile portion of the SNETT in Blackstone, Millville and Uxbridge is also currently being developed as a paved multi-use trail as a part of the Blackstone River Greenway.
The Blackstone River Greenway is envisioned as a 50-mile greenway and paved multi-use pathway that will connect Providence, RI to Worcester, MA along the Blackstone River corridor. In Massachusetts, the Blackstone River Greenway is being planned, designed and constructed in seven (7) separate segments running from the Rhode Island border through Blackstone, Millville, Uxbridge, Northbridge, Grafton, Sutton, Millbury and Worcester.
Trail Enhancements
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SNETT Segment |
Current Conditions |
Future Improvement Needs / Status |
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Douglas: CT Line to Uxbridge line, 7.4 miles |
Gravel, graded surface. Some sections have been impacted by flooding and wetness. |
Basic trail grading and maintenance. |
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Uxbridge: Douglas line to 146/146A, 3.6 miles |
Gravel surface. Some sections need vegetation clearing and drainage maintenance. Route 146/146A form a barrier in connectivity of the trail. |
Basic trail surface and vegetation maintenance. No current plans for addressing the 146/146A barrier. |
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Blackstone River Greenway Segment 1: Uxbridge, Millville, Blackstone, 3.7 miles |
Beautiful new 10-foot wide multi-use paved pathway, including seven bridges and a new tunnel. |
Opened 2017! |
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Blackstone, Route 122 to Bellingham Route 126, 2.2 miles |
This section is largely discontinuous with sections of access road, wetland crossings and wood-chip pathway. |
No current plans. |
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Bellingham, Route 126 to Center Street, 1.3 miles |
Wetland and gravel surface. |
DCR has completed preliminary design plans and with working with community stakeholders to review and permit. No construction funds currently identified. |
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Bellingham, Center St to Franklin Prospect St, 2 miles |
New 10-foot wide, stabilized soil aggregate surface. Constructed by the Town of Bellingham and DCR. |
Opened 2016-17! |
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Blackstone River Greenway |
Current Conditions |
Future Improvement Needs / Status |
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Segment 1a: Blackstone Depot to the Rhode Island Line |
Discontinuous. |
Under design, including the 7 span via-duct. |
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Segment 1: Uxbridge, Millville, Blackstone, 3.7 miles |
Beautiful new 10-foot wide multi-use paved pathway, including seven bridges and a new tunnel. |
Opened 2017! |
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Segment 2: Uxbridge, Route 146/146A to DCR’s Riverbend Farm, 7.7 miles. |
No continuous corridor or route currently exists. |
DCR is currently conducting a feasibility study to assess potential route options and impacts. |
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Segments 3-5: Uxbridge to Route 122a in Millbury, 13 miles. |
No continuous corridor or route currently exists. |
Design and permitting was suspended due to the complexity of these segments. |
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Segment 6: Millbury to Route 290 in Worcester, 4 miles. |
10-foot wide paved, multi-use pathway completed in 2008. |
Complete. |
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Segment 7: Worcester, Route 290 to new Blackstone Visitor Center |
Under construction by MassDOT and City of Worcester. |
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