Twin Cities Rail Trail, Phase 1, is open

The inaugural section of the Twin Cities Rail Trail between Leominster and Fitchburg, Massachusetts, officially opened this past Wednesday. Though people have already been using it in its near-finished state, excited advocates wasted no time in enjoying the “official” version via a very early summer solstice dawn stroll, as posted on the TCRT Facebook page.

The trail will ultimately run 4.5 miles between the two communities’ downtowns. Phase 1 covers most of that distance, going about 4 miles south-to-north between Carter Park in Leominster and 1st St. in Fitchburg. I wrote an update on the project in June 2020, soon after the construction contract was awarded to J.H. Lynch & Sons.

In February, Streetsblog Mass. entusiastically previewed the completion of the project, along with other anticipated 2022 trail openings in the Bay State.

In terms of terms of opening up car-free travel options for neighborhoods that previously didn’t have all that many, this may be one of the most impactful trail projects opening in 2022…connecting several densely-populated residential neighborhoods, industrial areas, parks, and shopping centers along its route.

Streetsblog Mass.

Most trail projects take time and years of effort, but the Twin Cities Rail Trail especially took a while to get to this point. In his preview of the trail opening last month, the Leominster Champion‘s David Dore noted that trail development has endured “nearly two decades of negotiations, grant applications, land purchases and construction”. A big credit goes to those local leaders, state and municipal staff, and advocates who kept with this vision and are making it a reality.

The article has the following update on the bookend segments:

[MassDOT] is “nearly finished with the latest draft design of the bridge at the north end of the trail connecting to downtown Fitchburg…Meanwhile, the city of Leominster is still progressing on negotiations with CSX Rail Corp. to purchase the additional section at the southern end of the trail, which will extend it to Mechanic Street.” 

Larry Casassa, Chair of the Twin Cities Rail Trail Association, quoted in “Phase 1 of rail trail connecting Fitchburg, Leominster expected to open June 22”, by David Dore, Leominster Champion, May 12, 2022.

The big destination yet to be directly connected at the northern end (by the bridge in design) is the MBTA Fitchburg commuter rail station, but each bookend will bring the trail into the heart (instead of the perimeter) of each community’s downtown. The off-road trail portion actually stops at 4th St. in Fitchburg, with neighborhood streets taking you the rest of the way to the Nashua River. On the other side of the river is the MBTA station and Main St., Fitchburg.

The total cost of the project has been estimated to be $18 million, with a mix of federal/state/local funds. MassDOT has been managing the project, with local funding having been allocated for right-of-way acquisition. The Phase 1 construction contract initial award was for $7.5 million.

The trail is a 12 ft. path with brick paver intersection treatments at street crossings, improved crosswalks, new landscaping and wooden guardrail, rest areas, and — a centerpiece of Phase 1 — a new bridge over State Route 2. (See photo in the Streetsblog Mass. article linked above.)

Here is a video previewing the route from YouTube user Ratbas New England Virtual Cycling: