Dear Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (Boston MPO),

We the undersigned, advocates, users, and Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (BFRT) strongly support the inclusion of the Sudbury and Concord: Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, Phase 2D project (Project ID 608164, BFRT Phase 2D) for federal fiscal year (FFY) 2022 construction in the Draft FFYs 2022-2026 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) document.

Phase 2D of the BFRT (Project ID 608164) will constitute almost 5 miles of trail including the unbuilt portion of the BFRT Phase 2C from Powder Mill Road in Concord to the Sudbury town line, and the 4.6-mile Sudbury segment from Concord Town line south to Station Road. Phase 2D of the BFRT will connect to approximately 14 miles of the BFRT to the north which is either built or under construction (Phase 2B the one-mile section dominated by the bridge over Route 2 in Concord and Acton is now scheduled to open in spring 2022).

We thank the Boston MPO for including BFRT Phase 2D for advertisement for construction for FFY 2022 in the FFYs 2022-2026 Draft TIP.

The BFRT and rail trails in general have many benefits.

• Safe transportation route to destinations, which there are many along the BFRT and include connections to the BFRT to the north and the east-west Mass Central Trail at Sudbury Station Road. When complete some connections to the BFRT include
  • West Concord MBTA station
  • Businesses (many small businesses, but also Crosspoint Tower in Lowell)
  • Schools (Sanborn School in Concord, and Byam School in Chelmsford)
  • Recreation areas (including Davis Field & Featherland Park in Sudbury, NARA Park in Acton)
  • Many retail establishments (in Lowell, Chelmsford Center, Acton, West Concord, and Sudbury)
  • Numerous conservation areas in Sudbury, Concord, Acton, Carlisle, and Chelmsford.
• Substitute for automobile trips
• Use of local merchants near the BFRT
• Health benefits of walking and riding
• Recreation benefits
• Community benefits including community gathering place
• Tourism

Also note, the Town of Sudbury has acquired the BFRT right-of-way to the Framingham border. The FBFRT also is working with the City of Framingham and local, state, and federal elected officials to help Framingham acquire the remaining portion of BFRT right-of-way to in the city, and thus providing the realistic goal of extending the FBFRT just west of Framingham State University. Thus, it is realistic that the benefits of Phase 2D section will be further enhanced by a future connection to the south, including the Sudbury commercial district, the Nobscot and Route 9 corridor Framingham sections.

For these reasons we strongly support the inclusion of Phase 2D of the BFRT in the FFYs 2022-2026 TIP for FFY 2022 construction.