Chelsea Everett Greenway Connector
Creating a plan for a new greenway from the end of the Chelsea Greenway to the Encore Casino, Northern Strand Trail, and beyond.
Chelsea Everett Greenway | Photo Credit: MAPC
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), in partnership with the Cities of Chelsea and Everett, is undertaking a study to connect the Chelsea Greenway with the Northern Strand Trail and the Encore Casino area.
This first phase is an alternatives analysis to identify a preferred alignment connecting from the end of the Chelsea Greenway at Chestnut Street in Chelsea to Broadway (Route 99) in Everett and on to the Northern Strand Trail. The alternatives analysis is funded in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.
We are broadly defining a “greenway” as a corridor for walking, cycling and rolling, physically separated from motor vehicles. By “rolling” we refer to other types of personal wheeled mobility besides bicycling, such as wheelchairs, walkers, scooters, mopeds, skateboards, and more.
The study is scheduled to be completed by Summer 2025, with selection of a preferred alignment. MAPC plans to use the study recommendations to apply for future funding to advance the greenway to design and construction.
Questions?
Travis Pollack (Project Manager)
[email protected]
(617) 933-0793
David Loutzenheiser
[email protected]
(617) 933-0743
Background
The area around the Encore Casino in Everett and Chelsea continues to evolve from one dominated by freight, logistics and industrial uses to a more mixed-use area with new retail, housing, and office, and entertainment options.
The existing transportation networks, however, have not kept up with this changing landscape, particularly east-west connectors from Chelsea to Everett and the Casino area. Vehicular traffic has increased on the same congested streets and highways, and there is limited safe bicycle and pedestrian access from much of Chelsea to Encore.
This safety challenge is particularly difficult during peak morning and afternoon periods and during major events at the Casino, when Routes 16 and 99 are congested, and the only other local east-west connector (Beacham Street) is heavily used by freight vehicles. Moreover, transit options from Chelsea to the Casino can take over an hour, sometimes with multiple bus connections.
In 2023, MAPC applied for and received a Community Mitigation Grant from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to procure consultant services to conduct an alternatives analysis to identify a preferred alignment or alignments, connecting from the end of the Chelsea Greenway at Chestnut Street in Chelsea to Broadway (Route 99) in Everett and on to the Northern Strand Trail.
The map below shows the approximate start and end points of the project, as well as existing and future greenways, bicycle lanes, and trails in the area.
Latest Developments
Summer 2024
The Chelsea Everett Greenway Connector study began.

Old brick warehouse building opposite new housing | Photo Credit: MAPC

Description: Map illustrating incomplete trail network in Chelsea and Everett. The existing Chelsea Greenway ends east of Route 1, over 2 miles from Encore Boston and the Northern Strand Trail. Solid lines show existing trails and pathways (green and red), bicycle lanes (blue), and urban sidewalks (yellow); dashed lines illustrate proposed or potential facilities, design and exact locations to be determined.
Project Timeline
Summer 2024 | Project Begins |
Fall 2024 | Select consultant to evaluate alternatives |
Winter 2024- 2025 | Site visits, stakeholder engagement, route evaluation |
Spring 2025 | Identify preferred alignment |
Summer 2025 | Release of study recommendations anticipated |
MAPC anticipates releasing the draft findings for public review and feedback once a draft preferred alignment is identified. A more extensive engagement effort will be undertaken when the project moves into the design phase, when residents, workers, and others can provide input and feedback on the design and layout of the greenway connector.
Related Projects and Resources
The following are links to other transportation projects and programs in the study area.
Landline
LandLine is MAPC's vision to connect our greenways and trails into a seamless network. The plan has been developed in coordination with the LandLine Coalition, a group of 40 volunteers representing a number of local agencies and advocacy groups.
City of Everett Transportation and Mobility Department
The City of Everett Transportation and Mobility Department undertakes various planning initiatives and projects for the City’s physical infrastructure.
City of Chelsea Department of Housing and Community Development Infrastructure and Mobility
The City of Chelsea Department of Housing and Community Development, Infrastructure and Mobility webpage includes links to various transportation projects in Chelsea.
MBTA Silver Line Extension
The MBTA Silver Line Extension is the MBTA’s plan to extend Bus Rapid Transit through Chelsea and Everett to Sullivan Square.