Framingham Trail Information

Nearby Trails Proposed or Under Construction

In the Framingham area there are two primary trail systems.  The oldest of the two is known as the Cochituate Rail Trail and is centered on a four mile long right of way which exits from the Boston - Worcestor MBTA Commuter Rail in Natick, Mass and extends northwest to the site of the  former Roxbury Carpet Mill in the Framingham village of Saxonville.   Roxbury Carpet  ceased operation in 1973 and in 1992 the abandoned right of way  from Rte 30 to Saxonville was  acquired jointly by the MBTA and the Mass Turnpike Authority.  The tracks from Natick to Rte 30 are still active, but only carry a slow train every week or so to serve a single business.  The volunteers working to make this trail and its associated side trails a reality, are presently negotiating with the Mass Turnpike Authority.

The second trail system is known as the Nobscot Rail Trail, (a.k.a. Bruce Freeman Trail, Phase III ).  The Nobscot Trail is centered on a thirty mile right of way that extends from another, more westerly location along Rte 30, northward thirty miles to the former Wang building at the junction of Routes 3 and 495.  This project has been divided into three phases.  Phase I from Rte 495 south to Rte 225 is scheduled to start construction as early as next summer (2004).  Phase II from Rte 225 though Acton, Concord, and Sudbury is being negotiated.  Phase III from Sudbury to Framingham is still very early in the process.

The Phase III section was active from Framingham to Sudbury long after the more northerly parts of the right of way had been abandoned.  A derailment on this section caused the discontinuance of this line in early 2000, and in the fall of 2002 a nine member task force was appointed to study the desirability of the Framingham's participation in the Bruce Freeman project.  Some members of the Task Force are very enthusiastic bicycle riders, some own abutting property, and at least one member at present is quite opposed to the project in any form.

The task force held three meetings with owners of property abutting the trail and one open forum on June 23rd, 2003 for the members of the public to make comments, ask questions and voice concerns.  All meetings were well attended and the reaction judging from comments and questions was quite favorable towards the Town's participation.  Many spoke of good experiences with using other recreational trails, a few spoke of the difficulty of trying to compete with local traffic while walking or riding.

A number of people voiced concerns as to how the project would be funded.  Others were apprehensive about potentially creating an opportunity for crime, the possibility of increased law enforcement cost, and other concerns such as abutter privacy and the need for sufficient parking.

The Task Force completed its report in early 2004.  A formal presentation to the Framingham board of selectmen is expected by the end of summer.