2025 MassTrails grants give a big boost to the MCRT!
The recent announcement of the 2025 MassTrails grants provided excellent news for eight (8) communities and many partners along the Mass Central Rail Trail. The following projects will receive funding for vital improvements along the MCRT.
2025 Grantee Projects
Hudson
The last great MCRT frontier inside 495
The Town of Hudson will bring to completion the project covering the 25% design phase of the penultimate section of the MCRT – the Wayside Branch. This section stretches from Priest Street, where it diverges from its shared path with the Assabet River Rail Trail in the East, to the Bolton/Berlin town line in the West.
Clinton
The gateway to the Clinton Tunnel and scenic Rauscher Farm reservation
This Phase 2 project will complete the MCRT Clinton section between the Rauscher Farm and the Berlin Town line. It will also include access points with ADA accessible parking at two locations: the Rauscher Farm and 44 Berlin Street. This project is being managed by the Clinton Greenway Conservation Trust and the Town of Clinton.
Rutland
Making the MCRT more accessible for all
Wachusett Greenways will construct an accessible portion of the MCRT, making the slope for the shared use path in Rutland East from Whitehall Road a maximum of 3.2% grade. The project will also expand the parking lot and a trail connection to the MCRT
Barre and New Braintree
Making a major step forward in closing a large gap
The East Quabbin Land Trust will manage a proposal to build 1.5 miles of the MCRT beginning at Station Road in Barre heading Southwest into New Braintree. This is Phase 1 of rail trail construction at the former Tanner-Hiller Airport, which is being converted to a Massachusetts Wildlife Management Area.
Palmer
Bringing Palmer villages together by trail
Belchertown
Restoring a beloved, scenic 19th century RR bridge
Friends of the Belchertown Greenway and the Town of Belchertown will work on the reconstruction of the Jabish Brook timber trestle to allow for a dedicated path to be installed in the future. This would create a vital MCRT connection over Jabish brook to the Northern and Southern portions of the trail in Belchertown.
Northampton
Maintaining an important transportation link in the Pioneer Valley
MassTrails grants will also benefit important connections to the MCRT
In Southampton – Funding will support a project for the further design, engineering, and permitting of a new 3.1-mile rail trail along an inactive railroad corridor in Southampton, acquired through a railbanking agreement in 2022. This trail, extending from Coleman Road to Route 10, narrows the gap between Easthampton's Manhan Trail and Westfield's Columbia Greenway. The funding will finalize the design of this critical segment of the New Haven and Northampton Canal Greenway.
The Town of Hadley will oversee a project to create a conceptual design for a 10-foot wide shared-use path from the Hadley Middle School along River Drive (Route 47) to the MCRT to the Route 9 corridor currently being reconstructed to accommodate Shared Use Paths for a distance of approximately 1.3 miles. This trail will connect the Town's Elementary School, Library, and Senior Center to the MCRT.
And the Town of Belchertown, partnering with Kestrel Land Trust, will commence phase 3 of the Lake Wallace Woods Trail, focused on improving the trails so it is a welcoming, safe and sustainable link to the Sensory Trails.
The Healey-Driscoll administration awarded $7.5 million in total grants for 50 trail projects across the state, creating 60 miles of new recreational trails. Read more about the MassTrails 2025 grants here.