Mass Central Rail Trail:
2025 Year in Review
From organizing a MCRT Alliance, to gathering many new trail users, to significant construction and completion of segments of the MCRT – 2025 was a year worth celebrating. Here’s a look back at the many wins for the MCRT in 2025.
January –
The MCRT Alliance launches a new version of the Mass Trail Tracker – a complete, detailed and annotated map of all 104 miles of the MCRT.
The towns of Hardwick and Hudson submit letters of support to finish the MCRT.
February –
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) authorizes their contractor to start a $2 million project to restore the Linden Street Bridge.
Members and supporters gather at the annual MCRT conference – the decision is made to expand the board and officially become the MCRT Alliance.
Senator Will Brownsberger hosts a briefing by MassDOT on the MCRT.
Towns of Belchertown, Hadley and Weston submit letters of support to finish the MCRT.
March –
DCR awards a “notice to proceed” for the Phase 2 paving of the 7.6 miles of the MCRT going through Sudbury, Stow, and Hudson.
The town of Clinton submits a letter of support to finish the MCRT.
April –
Construction begins to pave the 7.6-mile segment from Sudbury to Hudson.
The town of Ware submits a letter of support to finish the MCRT.
May –
The Sudbury “Diamond” track crossing begins getting refurbished, marking the intersection of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and the MCRT.
Concrete is poured onto an old railroad bridge – a huge win for the Waltham to Weston leg of the MCRT. DCR chronicled the day.
The MCRT Alliance shows it’s REV250 spirit by participating in the Minute Biker Response Ride and post-ride festival in Concord, MA, and by hosting a ride from “Burgy to Belchertown” commemorating the Minutemen who marched from Western MA to Cambridge.
The towns of Barre, Cambridge and Sudbury all submit letters of support to finish the MCRT.
June –
The MCRT Alliance hosts a family friendly ride from Wayland to Weston.
The town of Hudson preps an RFP for design work for the Priest Street to Felton Street portion of the MCRT.
Wachusett Greenways celebrated their 30th year!
The Waltham Land Trust organized an MCRT trail maintenance event on National Trails Day.
The town of Palmer submits a letter of support to finish the MCRT.
July –
Reporter and professor of journalism Dan Kennedy publishes a piece on the MCRT in Media Nation.
HUD-TV produced a video updating the status of the MCRT for the Town of Hudson.
MassBike hosts a “Diamond Ride” to explore where the MCRT meets the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in Sudbury.
The MCRT Alliance hosts a table at the Hardwick Town Fair
The Bill Russell Bridge (formerly the North Bank Bridge) opens with protected bike lanes.
August –
The MCRT Alliance holds three family friendly rides – Wachusett Greenways in West Boylston through Holden to Rutland; and a 10-mile and an 18.6-mile ride from Greenville Park in Ware.
The MCRT Alliance joined many others from the biking community at the annual Pedal Power event at the Museum of Science.
The rehab of the railroad bridge over the MBTA Fitchburg line is completed by DCR, connecting the Waltham and Weston sections of the MCRT.
The Mass Central Rail Trail video is featured in the Rails to Trails Green Issue.
A new mural by David O’Gara celebrating Waltham’s history is installed on the MCRT.
September –
Wachusett Greenways holds a dedication at Manning St., Holden for the three most recent MCRT construction projects 6 miles between River St. and Princeton St.
The East Quabbin Land Trust obtains an initial agreement to proceed with a rail-with-trail segment in Barre.
The MCRT Alliance and Belchertown Greenways participate at the Belchertown Town Fair.
Belmont receives an additional grant on the TIP to complete design work and votes to proceed ahead with MCRT trail development.
Belchertown votes to proceed with a 1.3-mile section of MCRT near the center of town.
The MCRT Alliance participates at the Friends of Natick Trails annual meeting.
The Norwottuck section of the MCRT is featured as part of the state-wide MassTrails10 campaign.
October –
MassTrails announces grants for 2025, with 6 projects on the MCRT, and 4 on connecting trails, for a total of over $1.3M toward completion of the MCRT! Towns and organizations receiving grants include: Hudson, Clinton Greenways Conservation Trust, Wachusett Greenways, East Quabbin Land Trust, Palmer, Belchertown Greenways and Northampton. See all the MCRT projects receiving grants.
MCRT is featured at the Moving Together conference in Boston.
More riders are completing the entire MCRT, including one person who covered the whole route in one day.
The economic impact report for a completed New Haven & Northampton Canal Greenway is released. Highlights include how this will enhance the use and impact of the MCRT.
Many visitors take advantage of the MBTA’s Fall Rail Ride to explore the Bruce Freeman and Mass Central Rail Trails.
The MCRT video is featured at the national From Rails to Trails documentary premiere in Boston.
100% of Sudbury-Hudson MCRT paving is complete.
November –
Construction to upgrade Cambridge’s Linear Park on MCRT begins.
The City of Somerville completes its installation of new lighting along the Somerville Community Path.
The Sudbury Diamond is completed – marking the intersection of the MCRT and the BFRT.
December –
DCR announces the rededication of North Point Park in honor of the late Richard McKinnon. The Richard McKinnon State Park includes access to the Charles River, a network of small islands, bridges and canals, a playground and a segment of the MCRT.
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Written by the Mass Central Rail Trail Alliance. Have questions? Email our new email address at info@mcrt.org.