And another group of travelers, these of the two-wheeled variety, will get their own long-awaited skyline cruise, as well, on a viaduct serving as the final link in a nearly 15-mile stretch that will let cyclists and pedestrians traverse between downtown Boston and as far away as the northern end of the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway in Bedford — almost always separated from car traffic. (oops this should say, as far away as Northampton CDP)

NEW PALTZ – Popular efforts to convert former rail lines into biking and hiking trails, across Ulster County and the state, are making steady progress near New Paltz.

A trio of nonprofits, the Open Space Institute, the Wallkill Valley Land Trust and the Hudson River Valley Greenway, are a month away from finishing a $1.5 million project to improve the northern 9.5-mile stretch of the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, Open Space Institute leaders said on Tuesday. Read more

Swampscott will soon begin the second segment of the protracted Swampscott Rail Trail construction project with state-grant money, town officials said over the phone on Tuesday afternoon.

The news arrives four month after the town completed the first segment, which runs from Beach Bluff to the Marblehead Line, connecting the neighboring town’s rail trail with Swampscott’s. A split-rail wooden fence lines the flat, nearly 600-foot segment.

Swampscott will now execute and add a second segment roughly 625 feet with funding largely from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Shared Streets & Spaces Emergency Grant Program.

Read more

SOUTH YARMOUTH — The third phase of the Cape Cod Rail Trail extension, bringing the bike path westward across the Yarmouth line and into Barnstable, is now at the 25% design phase.

State officials are once again looking for public input.

The state Department of Transportation will post a webinar on its website beginning Friday, Oct. 9, and the public will have until Oct. 23 to submit their comments. Read more.

The ambitious New York Empire State Trail is taking shape, linking and connecting and improving existing trails for a 750-mile network that will enable bikers, hikers, recreational users go from New York City to the Canadian border, and from Buffalo to Albany. And it seems like it is on track for completion by the end of the year, when it would become the longest multi-use state trail in the nation.

By Benjamin Paulin

The committee’s vision is to build multimodal trail infrastructure in Dighton that will integrate with the existing South Coast

Oct. 5, 2020

The Connecticut Greenways Council (CGC) will hold its 21st Annual CT Greenway Awards on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 4 p.m. at the Rotary Pavilion in Charter Oak Park in Manchester. The event will celebrate the Charter Oak Greenway, Manchester's Charter Oak Park, and the Community of Manchester, CT.

The CGC consists of members appointed by the Governor and the leaders of the General Assembly. Their duties include advising and assisting in the coordination of state agencies, municipalities, regional planning organizations and private citizens in voluntarily planning and implementing a system of greenways.

Read more.

August 15, 2020

Holliston Reporter

Whether it’s a history scavenger hunt or random discovery, our Rail Trail is as historic as it is relaxing to walk, jog and ride. The history of Holliston that grew up along the former railroad has been around a while. Hoping to show “what was here” in years past prompted the idea to create and install interpretive signs. With the 8-arch stone bridge restoration finished and momentum to do more, a few volunteers decided to tell some of the history of the various parts of town along the old rail bed.

Mary Greendale authored much of the text and collected the materials used in the displays, some of which Robert Weidneckt had assembled over the years in developing the Trail.

By Ed Brennen

Thanks to a pair of recent state grants, students, faculty and staff are closer to having a protected, shared-use path when walking or bicycling along Pawtucket Street between South and East campuses.

The “Pawtucket Greenway,” a collaboration between UMass Lowell and the City of Lowell, is one of three pilot projects being implemented with a $165,755 grant the city received from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) Shared Streets and Spaces program.

The university, meanwhile, received a $57,000 MassTrails grant from the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to begin designs for connecting the Pawtucket Greenway to Lowell’s existing network of paths and trails. Read more.

— Richard Williamson, of Farmstead Lane, Sudbury

The one place people are flocking to during this corona virus crisis are open spaces. These areas such as conservation areas, parks, hiking and biking trails are full of people getting critical exercise, peace of mind and enjoying the foliage. In these difficult times it is great to be able to get outdoors and social distance in a safe and peaceful manner. Mother nature is a great nurturer!

Greenway investment is a good way to connect with nature, spur the economic recovery and improve public health. Read more

Oct 15, 2020

he bean counters have spoken: A safe network of protected bike lanes is good for the urban economy.

Completion of the long-sought 35-mile Baltimore Greenway Trails Network would create jobs, improve property values, reduce vehicle miles traveled, create new business activity surrounding the trail and just be better for the air, according to a new report to be released today by the accounting firm Ernst and Young.

And the green visors even put price tags on the benefits of spending an estimated $28 million to complete the last 10 miles of the project (see map. Read more.

Media and Arts Correspondent

BBC

We live in a time when our phones will show us the quickest route to almost anywhere - if we are driving, that is. Walking? Well, that's a different matter.

Geographer Daniel Raven-Ellison is offering a solution; a new map created by volunteers during lockdown to show the best walking routes between all of Britain's main towns.

All that is needed now is 10,000 keen walkers to test out the routes on his "slow map".

Part of the government's official transport advice during the pandemic has been "walk, if you can". It is good for keeping down both infection and congestion. It is also good for our health. Read more.