A look at several rail trail projects underway across the state, from west to east
Pittsfield/North Adams, Ashuwillticook Trail: Pittsfield studying 3-mile extension of Ashuwillticook Rail Trail from Lanesborough line. Department of Conservation and Recreation considering northern extension to Adams with spur to Mount Greylock State Park.
Southwick: Massachusetts Highway Department and federal funding approved for 6-mile extension of Connecticut's 25-mile Farmington Valley Greenway.
Northampton: $4.5 million renovation of existing DCR trail planned, also $2.2 million extension from Look Park to Leeds
Belchertown: Town Land Trust controls 6 of 9 miles of former Massachusetts Central Railroad, envisioned as the spine of a 150-mile cross-state rail trail.
Hardwick, Ware: East Quabbin Land Trust developing rail path, with $750,000 state planning grant to Hardwick.
Ware River Trail: State owns 15.7 miles of abandoned rail corridor from Smithfield village of Barre to Baldwinville village of Templeton, but Route 2 embankment now blocks path.
Oakham-Rutland-Holden-West Boylston-Sterling: Wachusett Greenways, towns, others have developed 11 of 30 miles, built four bridges, raised $1.2 million of $2 million for construction. Bridge over Route 140 in Boylston, tunnel under Route 56 in Rutland needed.
Berlin to Belmont: DCR and MBTA are negotiating 99-year lease for parks agency to control former Massachusetts Central rail corridor, but Weston residents in 1997 voted not to participate.
Southbridge to Webster: $200,000 state funding committed for 11-mile trail design and preparation through Dudley and Thompson, Conn., to Webster.
Millbury to Uxbridge: Blackstone River Bikeway connections being planned by DCR to 8-mile path now open in Cumberland and Lincoln, R.I.
Douglas to Franklin: DCR developing plans for $10 million upgrade of 23 miles of old Southern New England Trunkline railroad from Boston to New York, including unpaved/rustic areas for mountain bikers and horse riders.
Upper Charles: Holliston officials have negotiated unsuccessfully for 10 years with CSX Railroad to buy rail line. A 3.5-mile path section opened in Milford this summer.
Bruce Freeman: Ribbon-cutting tomorrow for construction start for $4.2-million, 6-mile stretch from CrossPoint Towers in Lowell to Westford. Westford-Acton-Concord-Sudbury stretch is planned, needs funding. Last 4.6 miles from Sudbury to Framingham still owned by CSX Railroad.
Cambridge, Somerville, Watertown: DCR developing bikeway connections from Minuteman Bikeway along Alewife Brook Reservation to Mystic River Reservation ($2.5 million) and along old Watertown branch rail line from Fresh Pond to Charles River bike paths (cost unknown).
Bedford: Town planning 2.2-mile Minuteman extension.
Newton: DCR estimates 1.2-mile connection from Riverside MBTA station over Route 128 and Charles River on abandoned rail line to Wellesley Lower Falls would cost $1.75 million.
Neponset River: State master plan complete for $5 million bikeway/greenway from Central Avenue to Paul's Bridge and half-mile link from Freeport Street to Morrissey Boulevard.
Malden: Mayor in September signed lease with MBTA for Malden stretch of 10-mile Everett-Lynn "Bike to the Sea/Northern Strand Community Path."
Danvers-Wenham-Topsfield: Metropolitan Area Planning Council hopes to open 8.2 miles of Border-to-Boston Trail by 2017.
Swampscott: Town planning 1.4-mile connection from Walker Road to existing Marblehead Trail.
Hingham-Cohasset: MBTA building Wompatuck Corridor path connection as Greenbush commuter railroad mitigation project.
Fairhaven-Wareham: Mass. Highway Department scheduled to award contract for 1-mile extension in Mattapoisett of 3.5-mile Phoenix Trail in Fairhaven, part of a future rail-trail extension through Marion and Wareham to the Cape Cod Canal.
Falmouth: State in April gave town environmental approval for 6-mile extension of Shining Sea Bike Path north from Carlson Lane on disused rail line.
Yarmouth: $114,000 Cape Cod Commission planning funds committed for extension of Cape Cod Rail Trail west from South Dennis.
Nantucket: $1.9 million state funding earmarked for Cliff Road path.
PETER J. HOWE
