Support BFRT Phase 2D inclusion in Draft FFYs 2022-26 TIP

Last year I bicycled over 800 rail trail miles around hip replacement surgery in May and knee replacement surgery in August. The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail was an integral part of my rehab. Please continue the expansion and maintenance of this amazing resouce.

The BFRT is a wonderful component of the quality of life in our region. To be able to use the trail to walk or ride to NARA Park or to ride to Heart Pond has been truly enjoyable. Extending the BFRT through Sudbury is a great project that should definitely be funded.

When the effort to make the BRFT a reality started, I had one infant. I needed and wanted a nature-filled paved trail to walk on with my daughter's stroller in West Concord. As the years progressed, I still needed a path for a stroller, but also wanted a safe place that wasn't a parking lot for older kids to ride their bikes, then my parents moved in with me, and they wanted a safe, flat paved place to walk. Now that the bridge over Rt. 2 is almost complete, my youngest daughter loves to bike and is excited to be able to bike to Acton without needing to drive to meet her friends. Though it has taken over 20 years, I would like to thank the Boston MPO for funding previous Phases of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and keeping Phase 2D (Project #608164) on the Draft TIP for the appropriate construction year of FFY 2022. This bike path has become a lovely resource for West Concord residents, and has increased visitors to businesses as well. We need to continue to complete the BFRT to its completion, to make the network of trails complete. It is wonderful for local merchants near the BFRT, provides health benefits, recreation benefits and community benefits by providing a place for exercise removed from busy roadways. Thank you for your support, Peggy, Brad, Helen, and Janet Wargelin Rob and D'Nena Moore

I fully support the Phase 2D inclusion,

Having safe walking and biking paths like this one is an awesome and necessary addition to any and every community

I'm offering my full support for BFRT Phase 2D because it will transform the areas surrounding it for the better, not just increasing property values but improving the physical and mental health of all those who will benefit from it. The environment stands to improve as well as bicycles, skates, etc. can be used more readily for transportation instead of cars. Thank you for your consideration here.

My husband and I are frequent users of the BFRT and are looking forward to the next phase. When built, the Sudbury line will be less than a mile from our house, making for an easy and pleasurable way to visit our friends in Concord. We can't wait!

I'm a strong supporter of the BFRT. It's a wonderful asset to these towns. It's great for exercise, it gets neighbors outside meeting each other, it's been a wonderful distraction from the mess we've been in for the last year. Please continue to support this great project.

I have ridden all of phase 1 and the open portions of phase 2 and hope you will fund the construction of phase 2D to finish the Concord portion and begin the Sudbury portion. With more aggressive drivers I feel so much more comfortable on the rail trail and hope we might get to the connection to the east/ west trail in a few years.

Strongly support the build do the north Sudbury connector.

This is a critically important public asset serving to enhance property values and build community.

The BFRT is part of an important bike path route that is wonderful addition to our community for bike commuters and for everyone who wants to exercise outdoors without having to deal with bother of car traffic. Only good option for young bikers and for rollerbladers since roads really are not safe. I use the route all year and would welcome seeing it completed.

I love the rail trail!! I am an abuttor to the trail and have greatly benefited from having it right outside my door. First, SO many happy people pass by every day, enjoying nature, getting exercise, taking a breather from work. Second, I used it several times a week for exercise during the pandemic, walking a few miles from different starting points each week. By nowI have walked every mile of the existing trail and look forward to seeing the future extensions of the trail.

My family and I are avid cyclists, and we've actively pursued and built entire vacations around good solid bike trails that are safe and fun for us to enjoy. We've been to Vermont, Colorado, Oregon and Maine, just to name a few places with great trails. We've wanted to have a nice trail here in our community for so long. Now my kids are adults, and my wife and I bike on the roads of greater new england, as well as off-road. We'd like the Bruce Freeman rail trail to be here for our grandkids to enjoy with us. Let's make it a reality for all of us who love an appreciate the beauty of being outdoors in a safe environment sharing memories that will last a lifetime.

I fully support the expansion of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. The investment of money will be returned many fold to individuals and businesses in the area.

As a retired active senior I make frequent use of rail trails, especially the expanding BFRT (close to my home). A great asset for the community.

In support of BFT

More trail needs to be built as the existing is getting like the Minuteman trail.

I am an abutter to the Freeman trail. It is a tremendous asset to our town and to those who find exercise and community in the outdoors.

As a person with a chronic illness, cycling has been my most effective therapy. Long, safe bike paths like the BFRT are best for me and many others. This is an important project to complete.