Sudbury Closes On Land Purchase For Bruce Freeman Rail Trail

SUDBURY, MA — Sudbury has closed on a purchase of 1.4 miles of former railroad south of Route 20, paving the way for a future expansion of the regional Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (BFRT).

The town is paying $1.2 million for a stretch of former CSX railway that runs from near Route 20 to the Framingham border. The purchase was approved by Sudbury voters in November, and the Board of Selectmen signed off in November.

The purchase comes at an important time for the extension of the BFRT. The trail will eventually span 25 miles from Lowell to near Route 9 in Framingham. The trail is complete nearly through Concord, leaving just a few sections of former CSX land to be purchased.

But, the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB), which oversees railways, recently changed rules around land purchase negotiations for rail trails. Sudbury's purchase comes just after a deadline when future negotiations may have been more difficult.

The STB recently rejected Framingham's request to extend a negotiation deadline. However, the city will likely still have a chance to purchase 3-1/2 miles of land that will complete the BFRT by negotiating directly with a CSX subsidiary.

Sudbury began pursuing the land shortly after CSX abandoned the line after a freight train derailment in 2000.

"The purchase comes after extensive negotiations spanning nearly twenty years, reflecting proactive planning to both mitigate risks and create opportunities." Sudbury Board of Selectmen member Jennifer Roberts said in a statement. "It will help protect valuable land and water resources and prevent unforeseen uses. Ownership of the land enables possible future expansion of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, including to Sudbury’s Business District on Route 20."

Sudbury was also awarded a $300,000 MassTrail grant and a $100,000 Recreational Trails Grant from the state, which will both be put toward the $1.2 million purchase.

A second 4-1/2 mile BFRT section in Sudbury from Route 20 to the Concord line is also in the works. Construction on that section could begin in 2022.