Rail Trail e-Newsletter June & July 2025 #2.2

Hi Craig,

Sorry for the delay. There's been lots of changes that have slowed me down for the early part of the summer. I have stepped down from the Board of Norwottuck Network as everything is pretty much at "YES" now.

I have been doing this Rail Trail advocacy work for a long time now, and we've recently entered a new realm and I can see that I should evolve my work into a slightly new direction.

For over 25 years now, I have been getting places, to "YES". I like to say that if you can't get your town to YES, you can't get your trail built. I'm sorry. I know this is somewhat snippy, but it is true.

On the Mass Central Rail Trail now, all places are at "YES" and there are no more rabid, 2nd-stager, radical, anti-trail orgs left. And more importantly, MassDOT is now determining the costs to finish the rail trail. That in itself is mind-bendingly amazing. (For those puzzled by my insertion of "2nd stagers". . . When talking about the idea of a rail trail, most people and places today are in the 3rd stage of truth. This link will explain the 3 stages of truth.)

Right now we are at 63 miles open and we'll likely be at 75 miles open by the end of the year. That leaves only the big, expensive projects that are left to do. These several large bridges, getting the tunnel at Clinton upgraded and piecing together several miles of gaps.

Several key State Reps and Senators are now also clamoring to get it finished--and more and more are starting to join in this effort. It is now time for me to step away and do some different, but similar things.

I'm restarting Northeast Greenway Solutions, my small consulting firm. (Hence the name change for my e-newsletter) And I've been invited by the world's largest aggregator of Real Estate Podcasts to set up my own podcast. That should be operational in a couple of weeks and it will be called Roads Less Traveled. I have a blurb about that below. Many of you who get this newsletter will want to be on the distribution list for that, or even be on the show as a guest.

And I have a couple of other important things to announce, but I'll wait for the next e-Newsletter.

Once again, sorry for the delay here.

Enjoy this one.

Craig Della Penna, Principal

Northeast Greenway Solutions

62 Chestnut St. Northampton, MA 01062

413 575 2277 CraigDP413@gmail.com

In the GREEN area, we have news about the

Mass Central Rail Trail

and perhaps some of the 18 other trails that connect to it.

Stories about the MCRT

in Hudson and Somerville

A race for the Cat-Mayor of the MCRT in Somerville. NBC 10 Boston

An election is heating up in Somerville, Massachusetts. It's got a lot of purrsonality and even a bit of scandal, just no people.

A group of feisty felines are campaigning for the imaginary office of Bike Path Mayor on the Somerville Community Path. And it seems one candidate has a very real enemy. Read more.

Hudson planners are gearing up for the next major step in building the town’s section of the MCRT.

Planning and Community Development Director Kristina Johnson said the town is preparing a request for proposals for design work on the next segment of the MCRT from Priest Street to Felton Street in Downtown Hudson. Read more.

Welcome to the Roads Less Travelled Podcast!

Love rail trails, bike tourism, or greenway real estate? Have you ever dreamt of operating a bed & breakfast along a scenic trail? Or seen how trails can revive small towns?

Join host Craig Della Penna a Realtor, trail advocate, and storyteller, for quick, insightful conversations where real estate meets sustainability and adventure.

Have a story to share? Book your spot and be part of the Roads Less Travelled. LINK here to the booking site

AND IN THE WHITE AREA,

OTHER NEWS AROUND THE REGION

Two stories about trail

projects close to Boston.

Neponset River Greenway extension quietly opens to the public ahead of July 4

By Seth Daniel, News Editor, Dorchester Reporter, 7-3-25

The fences came down early Thursday morning and the Neponset River Greenway’s “missing link” between Tenean Beach and Morrissey Boulevard became open to the public – a long-awaited connection to the overall recreational greenway that now provides an 8.2-mile uninterrupted ride or walk from the Neponset River trails to South Boston. Read more.

MassDOT Reveals New Designs, Timeline for Delayed Mystic River Car-Free Bridge Project

By Christian MilNeil StreetsBlog Mass 6-25-25

MassDOT now says it hopes to open the bridge before 2030 – a more ambitious timeline than agency officials had reported just a few weeks ago. Read more

A few stories about trail bridges and tunnels in NH and central Mass

Bridgegate: Old Vt.-NH connectors to be closed to pedestrians By Bob Audette, Brattleboro Reformer 7-2-25 BRATTLEBORO — Friday morning may be one of the last times in the next three years, or even ever, the public will be able to freely stroll the bridges and the island between the towns of Brattleboro, Vermont and Hinsdale, N.H. Read more.

Here's a solution that Hinsdale and the state of New Hampshire should consider to do with their surplus bridges over the CT River.

Make them into a Tri-State Trail project. I know this would be a hard and non-standard thing. Partnering in the development and marketing of projects that cross borders with neighboring states is not something that is easily done. But it would be impactful and worth the effort. See this link.

About the Derry, NH Court Case. . .

A federal judge on Monday made good on his vow to rule by the end of June on the ongoing battle between state and federal transportation officials and a plucky group of citizens determined to get a once-promised rail trail underpass back into the Interstate 93 Exit 4A construction project. The result: A victory for riders and striders who want a safer, contiguous route through the Manchester and Lawrence Railroad Historic District. Read more. And here's the official press release from Wilmer-Hale, the high-profile law firm for the plaintiffs / advocates.

Another great story about a rail trail by Ted Reinstein of Boston TV 5 Chronicle Show. This one is about the famous Blackstone Heritage Corridor near Worcester. See the Video.

(Ted and Chronicle have done nearly a dozen stories about rail trails in New England. Geez, he's interviewed me three times on this subject over the years. All the rail trail stores are findable on Chronicle's site. You'll be amazed. CDP)

Mr. Everything' of Keene trail system honored by bridge's new name.

By Sophia Keshmiri, Keene Sentinel Staff 6-27-25

Charles “Chuck” Redfern’s impact on Keene goes far beyond the footbridge over Route 101 that the state Legislature recently voted to name after him. Read more. .\

AND IN THE ORANGE AREA;

Interesting, "HIGH ALTITUDE" Stories From Around the Country and Sometimes Beyond.

Here's a couple of Yin and Yang stories about bikes that bring forth high altitude aspects of the idea of bikes coming into our 'hood--each and everyday.

Similar stories, but one in a large city in Canada and the other in a small town here in Western Mass.

Why is Riding a Bicycle in the City Turning Into a Culture War

Ron Johnson, Momentum Magazine 6-18-25

Is there a bicycle culture war happening on the streets right now? It sure does seem like it, as conversations turn from differences in policy to inflammatory and, yes, hate-fueled rhetoric. Do bicyclists represent more than just a person wanted to pedal a two-wheeled thing of beauty to work? Read more.

After contentious Town Meeting over easements for new shared-use path, Williamsburg Select Board poised to call special meeting Sam Gelinas, Daily Hampshire Gazette 6-13-25.

Two weeks after residents engaged in a contentious shouting match at annual Town Meeting over easement approval needed for proposed construction of a section of a shared-use path that will eventually connect to Northampton, residents of Haydenville’s South Main Street neighborhood opposed to the project and town officials were equally apologetic at a Select Board meeting on Thursday. Read more.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Do you or a friend have a surplus house somewhere in Mass? I know that sounds implausible, but I do get a couple of listings a year in situations like this.

I will make these oddities more impactful. Bring me in as your listing agent and I will market the property. When it sells, I will turn over my share of the sale commission to the Norwottuck Network for the Mass Central Rail Trail project.

Contact me at: CraigDP413@gmail.com

Craig Della Penna, CRS, GRI, Green, REALTOR, Associate Broker Trailside Team The Murphys Realtors. 7 Main Street Florence, MA 01062

NorthamptonRealtor.com/innovator

If you are getting this e-newsletter, you or a friend are likely to be a member of a Friends group affiliated with a rail trail somewhere in the northeast.

Kathy and I would love to offer up a creative fundraiser. We'll make a two-night stay available for two couples at our award-wining bed & breakfast--Sugar Maple Trailside Inn. This will include a guided tour by me, or either a walking tour or a biking tour of the rail trail network here.

We touch on not only all the RR and industrial history, of course, but also the political history of how each section got built. I'll curl your hair.

This tour will include lunch at a restaurant near the trail.

This donation should be a part of an overall fundraiser event for your local trail project. Link here to more info. Click on the image above for a more readable version.

Constant Contact alerted us that this newsletter is in the top 10% of all of Constant Contact's newsletters, worldwide, in terms of readership engagement. Imagine that!

CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE THE NOTIFICATION LETTER..

Phone: 413-575-2277 or Email Me

Archive of past e newsletters

My innovative Real Estate practice which supports this pretty much monthly, post.