Arlington Mystic River Path And Minuteman Bikeway Project Secures Million Dollar Federal Funding Check

ARLINGTON, MA — The town has secured a federal funding check worth $1 million to help fund the Mystic River Path and Minuteman Bikeway Connection project. The money is expected to be used to put together the project's final design, with another $250,000 from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation serving as the required local match. The finished product is expected to be a shared-use path meant to expand transportation options and strengthen links in the regional trail network.

The federal money was secured through an appropriation by Democratic Minority WHIP Katherine Clark in the Fiscal Year 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act. Arlington said the project builds on a feasibility study completed in 2022 and will now move into construction-ready design.

“This ambitious project will provide the missing link and bring together the heavily utilized Minuteman Bikeway, a regional gem, and a network of highly popular multi-purpose greenways,” Arlington Town Manager Jim Feeney said. “We wouldn’t be this far along in this project without the unwavering support of Congresswoman Katherine Clark and her team for securing funding to move this project from vision to a reality.”

According to the path's design, it will connect the northern end of the Alewife Brook Greenway to the Minuteman Bikeway in Arlington Center. Plans call for a continuous shared-use path for non-motorized travel, along with pedestrian-only paths and on-street bicycle lanes.

Key improvements targeted by the project include a 12-foot-wide path along the waterways and redesigned intersections at Route 60 and Mystic Valley Parkway in Arlington and Medford, as well as the Mystic Street, Summer Street, and Mystic Valley Parkway intersection in Arlington. Arlington said the work is intended to improve safety, comfort, and ADA accessibility, while adding neighborhood connections to surrounding residential areas.

The project also includes environmental and placemaking features. Those plans include preserving existing trees, protecting natural ecosystems, adding wayfinding and interpretive signage, and creating seating areas, scenic overlooks and opportunities for ecological restoration.

The town will form a Design Review Committee made up of local stakeholders to help guide design development and coordinate with boards, commissions, and neighborhood groups. Public engagement is expected to continue through the design phase, with the committee set to be formed and construction officially launched this summer.

Residents interested in serving on the Mystic to Minuteman Bikeway Design Review Committee can apply by Sunday, June 14. More information is available on the Committee Openings page.

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