Why
finish the
rail trail?
A completed MCRT holds immense potential
for Massachusetts, 26 communities and over 3 million residents
We have the data. We have community support. Now we need the public commitment from state elected officials to finish the rail trail.
Three key studies make clear that the completion of the MCRT is not only feasible, but also capable of giving the commonwealth a considerable economic boost while also providing safe, healthy and environmentally friendly transportation and recreation for residents.
The Economic Benefit of a Completed MCRT
A completed MCRT would tie together 18 existing and proposed trails to create a 273-mile trail network connecting 4.4 million people living within ten miles of the trails. That translates to a lot of economic potential.
So, what would a completed MCRT bring, economically, to the Commonwealth? The Norwottuck Network commissioned a study to answer this important question.
The results were compelling:
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A potential $212 million annual economic impact
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Up to 5.5 million annual visitors
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Including 375,000 overnight visitors
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Between 620 and 1,250 new jobs
In addition to considerable economic benefits, the report also uncovered important health benefits:
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Between 3,850 and 5,450 more people would become “active” according the to the CDC’s guidelines
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A reduction in health costs by $4.1 to $5.8 million per year
Lack of funding, right-of-way access, and other constraints often result in the unequal distribution of recreational resources, such as trails, across the Commonwealth. This study showed an important impact of a completed MCRT on Massachusetts Environmental Justice communities, Gateway Cities and Gateway towns.
A completed MCRT will provide meaningful economic and health benefits for Massachusetts.
The Feasibility of a Completed MCRT
Because the MCRT connects several critical links supporting the Commonwealth’s trail and greenway system, in 2021, the Mass Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Office of Transportation Planning developed a feasibility study to determine best options for how to complete the MCRT. Each option was then scored by level of difficulty to implement. The conclusion? It is feasible to fill the gaps of the MCRT, but it will be complicated. MassDOT received 110 public comments supporting the MCRT.
The Cost of Completing the MCRT
MassDOT is in the process of conducting a study on the cost of completing the MCRT. This is the final piece of research needed to make a clear case for the funding needed to finish the rail trail. Once results are available, they will be posted here.
More resources
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How we got here - the history of the MCRT
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Track rail trail progress in your community