Sudbury Submits New Designs For Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Segment

SUDBURY, MA — Sudbury in May reached a major milestone in the construction of 4-1/2 miles of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (BFRT) through the town, submitting 75% design plans to state transportation officials.

The 75% design package — the last submission before the 100% design package — gets into details like the width of the pathway, where amenities like benches and bathrooms will be located and how the trail will cross driveways and roadways.

According to the design package, Sudbury's path would be paved, 10-feet wide and would cross nine roadways and driveways. The trail would also connect to Broadacres Farm, Ti-Sales Field and Davis Field

Now, MassDOT will review the 75% package, a process that could take two or more months. Small changes to the design may be made before the town submits the 100% design package later this summer or in the fall.

Without any major changes, the project could go out to bid in spring 2022, with construction starting in the summer months. The Boston Metropolitan Planning Agency has set aside close to $13 million to pay for the section, although planners say it will cost less.

There are two segments of the BFRT in Sudbury. The 4-1/2 mile section runs along a defunct railway corridor and begins at the Sudbury-Concord line near White Pond and heads south to near Route 20. The second section spans 1.4 miles from Route 20 to the Framingham line. The town closed on the purchase of that former railway in December.

Eventually, the BFRT will span 25 miles from Lowell to Route 9 in Framingham. Only a 12-mile section from Lowell to Concord has been completed so far.