Framingham Upper Charles Trail
Overview
The Upper Charles Trail is complete through Milford, Holliston, and a portion of Sherborn. The ultimate goal is to extend the trail to Framingham Centre and the commuter rail. Two potential alignments are identified here that should be evaluated further. In addition to the Upper Charles Trail, the entire South Framingham area is mapped with potential trail opportunities.
STATUS
Two rough preliminary options have been identified. The first to follow the west side of the Adesa auction site and connecting to an abandoned rail line. The second option to travel west through Bates Park with road connections to the north. CSX has recently announced it’s desire to sell the railroad ROW in Sherborn, of which could be abandoned and used for a trail. The railroad ROW in Framingham is active and will not be available for a trail at this point in time.
Partners
Details
Corridor 1 - CSX Tracks
CSX owns tracks and several yard sections running north/south between downtown Framingham and the Sherborn line. The southern section of track is inactive, including a former rail yard. Farther north, in the vicinity of Bates Parks, the yard sees occasional use including train storage. CSX is reportedly interested in selling at least the southern section of the ROW and this could provide a prime opportunity for the Upper Charles Trail along with potential economic development of the former rail yards. There is a service road throughout the corridor that could serve as an interim trail until full buildout could occur.
Corridor 2 - Beaverdam Brook Trail
The Beaverdam Brook corridor provides an opportunity for a second north/south trail extending more northeasterly crossing the Sudbury Aqueduct and connecting to the large concentration of apartments off of Beaver Street. Beaverdam Brook is a largely wooded area with a river flowing through it. In most areas, there is ample room for a trail. Ownership of the parcels through this area to Tripp St is by Adesa or it’s lessor. Though Adesa is a largely paved site for parking, the western boundary is undeveloped and contains this river corridor. From Tripp St, the abandoned railroad spur would provide an opportunity to continue the trail north to the Sudbury Aqueduct. However ownership of the spur is currently unclear. The MBTA is now researching the ownership. Between the Sudbury Aqueduct, and Beaver Street is largely in private ownership, with a required crossing of the MassDOT Foxboro branch tracks, making this section a significant challenge.