Natick Awarded MassTrails Grant to Extend Cochituate Rail Trail

BOSTON – Representative David Linsky (D-Natick) announced today that the state has awarded $4 million in MassTrails Grants to the Town of Natick and 54 other local trail projects throughout the Commonwealth. The grant will support projects dedicated to the construction, maintenance, and improvements for a variety of public trails, including hiking trails, bikeways, and shared-use paths.

MassTrails Grants focus on the improvement of existing trails, the construction of new trails, and the maintenance of the statewide trail system. This year’s projects include:

1. The installation of trail facilities and amenities and facility landscaping;

2. The completion of trail design and engineering plans;

3. The installation and maintenance of directional and interpretive trail signage;

4. The development and creation of GIS mapping and trails guides;

5. The purchasing of trail maintenance equipment; and,

6. The upgrading of existing trails to accessible trail standards.

“Public trails are an incredible resource for the people of Massachusetts to enjoy the communities they live in” said Representative Linsky. “I want to thank MassTrails and the Baker-Polito Administration for awarding Natick with this grant that will help to expand on the The Cochituate Rail Trail.”

Natick specifically was awarded an $125,000 grant and matched with $31,250 that will go to the design, engineering and permitting of the Cochituate Rail Trail - MBTA Station Connection Design. The Cochituate Rail Trail - MBTA Station Connection Design will design the last critical gap in the regional Cochituate Rail Trail (CRT). The proposed project is for the last section of the CRT from its currently planned terminus at Mechanic Street in Natick directly to Natick Center and the Natick Center MBTA Station. The project includes approximately 1,300 feet of trail corridor and an ADA-accessible ramp.

Other MassTrails Grant projects are located within the following municipalities: Ashland, Adams, Arlington, Ashburnham, Athol, Barnstable, Becket, Belchertown, Bourne, Braintree, Brookline, Chelmsford, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Clinton, Concord, Dalton , Dartmouth, Egremont, Fitchburg, Florida, Franklin, Great Barrington, Greenfield, Groton, Hanson, Hatfield, Hawley, Hinsdale, Holyoke, Hopkinton, Lanesboro, Lawrence, Lee, Lenox, Lowell, Mattapoisett, Medfield, Monterey, Mount Washington, Natick, Needham, New Ashford, New Bedford, Newburyport, Newton, North Adams, North Reading, Northampton, Northfield, Peabody, Pittsfield, Plainfield, Plymouth, Sandisfield, Savoy, Sheffield, Southampton, Springfield, Sturbridge, Sudbury, Templeton, Townsend, Tyringham, Wareham, Washington , Williamstown, Windsor, and Yarmouth. A full list and brief description of each of the 55 projects receiving a grant can be found on the MassTrails Grants webpage.

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