Banner Photos: Left - MassDoT, showing the planned removal of the rail bridge over route 128
Center - Existing unused MBTA bridge over route 128
Right - rock hand-cut about 1850, between High Rock bridge and Charles River Street in Needham
Center - Existing unused MBTA bridge over route 128
Right - rock hand-cut about 1850, between High Rock bridge and Charles River Street in Needham
Petition Time: lets get Needham Heights a Linear Greenway Park !
We have learned by watching the amazing effectiveness of the "Save Cricket Field" group that petitions are very effective.
You can sign the electronic petition for a rail trail between Newton and Needham Heights HERE
However, the very most effective thing you can do is print out this PDF version of the petition (click here) and sign up your friends and neighbors, especially in Needham Heights, particularly abutters, town meeting members, dog walkers, seniors, families, bicyclists and recreational walkers. Inform your street and neighbors so they are aware of this opportunity and enthusiastic about what we can accomplish in 2013 !
Please contact us at NeedhamRailTrail@gmail.com with any questions
Thanks !
You can sign the electronic petition for a rail trail between Newton and Needham Heights HERE
However, the very most effective thing you can do is print out this PDF version of the petition (click here) and sign up your friends and neighbors, especially in Needham Heights, particularly abutters, town meeting members, dog walkers, seniors, families, bicyclists and recreational walkers. Inform your street and neighbors so they are aware of this opportunity and enthusiastic about what we can accomplish in 2013 !
Please contact us at NeedhamRailTrail@gmail.com with any questions
Thanks !
Recent Meeting Info
Previous Meeting: Green Routes in Needham and Metro Boston
What: Needham Rail Trail Greenway Monthly Meeting
When: Thursday February 21 2013 at 7:30 to 9 PM
Where: Community Room in the Needham Library, 1139 Highland Avenue Needham MA 02494
Topics: Monthly meeting with special guest Steven E. Miller of the Livable Streets Alliance and Harvard School of Public Health. Steve will discuss the proposed "Green Routes" in metro Boston, to plan and fund a network of low stress bike paths to provide a safe alternative to connect homes, work, shopping and recreation destinations.
Also, we will discuss Rail Trail, Bicycle and Pedestrian planning in Needham, Newton and Dover and provide an update on meetings we have had with the Needham Heights Neighborhood Association, Planning Board and Council on Aging. Open meeting, everyone is welcome !
WHAT IS A GREEN LANE? from GreenLaneProject.org
When: Thursday February 21 2013 at 7:30 to 9 PM
Where: Community Room in the Needham Library, 1139 Highland Avenue Needham MA 02494
Topics: Monthly meeting with special guest Steven E. Miller of the Livable Streets Alliance and Harvard School of Public Health. Steve will discuss the proposed "Green Routes" in metro Boston, to plan and fund a network of low stress bike paths to provide a safe alternative to connect homes, work, shopping and recreation destinations.
Also, we will discuss Rail Trail, Bicycle and Pedestrian planning in Needham, Newton and Dover and provide an update on meetings we have had with the Needham Heights Neighborhood Association, Planning Board and Council on Aging. Open meeting, everyone is welcome !
WHAT IS A GREEN LANE? from GreenLaneProject.org
- A green lane is more than just paint on the pavement.
- A green lane is a statement about how we experience our communities.
- Green lanes are next-generation bikeways being built on streets across the country, from San Francisco to New York City, from Minneapolis to Miami and from Long Beach to Pittsburgh. Green lanes are dedicated, inviting spaces for people on bikes in the roadway. They are protected from motor vehicles by curbs, planters, posts, or parked cars. They are separated from sidewalks. Some are painted green. The lanes are carefully engineered with rigorous attention to safety, efficiency, and ease of travel for all street users.
- A green lane is a name for a growing family of modern bikeways—inspired by decades of experience in European cities and adapted to meet the unique needs of American streets.
- Green lanes go by many different names. Sometimes they’re called cycle tracks. Other terms used are protected bike lanes, traffic-separated bike lanes, and buffered bike lanes. There are many variations in design and function, but these facilities share a common purpose—offer convenient, comfortable, and safe places for people from ages 8 to 80 to travel by bike.
- A green lane is a visible reminder of a city’s commitment to make its streets safer and more accessible for everyone.
- A green lane is a leap forward in bicycle transportation, designed to meet the evolving needs of American cities. Green lanes benefit everyone who uses the streets: people in cars and on foot know where to expect bicycles. More people on bikes eases congestion. When people ride bikes, they are healthier, and they save money.
- A green lane network, interconnected with traditional bike lanes and paths, low-speed streets, and other improvements such as bike boxes, bicycle-specific traffic signals, and bike-sharing systems, is integral to a truly multi-modal city where people enjoy a variety of ways to get around. These cities attract the talented residents, innovative businesses, and enthusiastic visitors that support a vibrant economy.
- Green lanes are not just color on the street. They are paths to better cities.
Meeting Theme: Green Routes Bike Network in Metro Boston
Table of Contents for this site
Introduction to Friends of the Needham Rail Trail Greenway
Calendar of Events & presentations shown
Economic Benefits of Rail Trail Greenways
Goals and Timeline
Newsletter
Safe Routes to Schools
Complete Streets
Bike Map of Needham
Latest Updates
The Five sections in Needham Section
1: Needham Charles River Bridge to Newton Upper Falls Greenway Section
2: Crossing Route 128 Section
3: Route 128 to Needham Heights Section
4: Needham Heights to Junction, parallel to the rail line, on widened sidewalks or striped bike lanes on-street Section
5: Dover town line to Needham Junction
Connecting Sections Outside Needham and in the Boston Area
Frequently Asked Questions
Stakeholders
How You Can Help
Organizations you might be interested inAbout Rail Trails
Media Coverage
Studies of Commuter Rail and Green Line
Town Meeting Articles
Join the email list
Contact Us / About Us
About Us
Google Map Link
Facebook Needham Rail Trail Greenway
MassDOT clearly stating the town can have a rail trail over 128
MassDOT said at the below hearing (June 11 2012) they will build whatever type bridge the MBTA asks for, whenever they ask for it. Presumably that means that if 3 of the 5 selectmen send a letter to the MBTA then the MBTA will send a letter to MassDOT / MassHighway who will then build the rail trail bridge, paid for as part of the 128 Add-a-Lane project. This would be in 2015-2016, meanwhile Iron Horse is building a rail trail in 2013 in Newton and they very much would like to build the entire section from Needham Heights (at the new Senior Center) / Trader Joes / Starbucks all the way to National Lumber at Route 9 in Newton. Study and review of the whole issue is something that is requested by Article 8 of the November 13 Needham Special Town Meeting.
View presentation for Town Meeting Members (New!)The October 29 Town Meeting has two articles sponsored by Friends of the Needham Rail Trail Greenway.
During the town meeting, we will have a few minutes to introduce the article and ask for your vote in support. Due to time constraints, we cannot provide a lengthy presentation. Therefore, we are preparing a PowerPoint presentation for the town meeting members to view before Oct 29, and we will have printed copies available. We are still refining the presentation, but would like to provide an early version to get your feedback. Thanks ! View info for Town meeting Members Here Oct 29 2012 update: Note that if 3 selectmen vote to send a letter to the MBTA / MassDOT, then we can have the rail trail immediately. Wow -- looks like a solution is found to building the rail trail between Needham and Newton -- it is as simple as the town sending a letter to the MassDOT / MBTA requesting a rail trail bridge! Quote: "Before the MBTA will allow MassDOT to tear down the bridge they must provide a written commitment to restore the bridge in the future. Because the future needs are unknown at this time, restoration will not be part of the Add-a-Lane Project; however, MassDOT is responsible for restoring the bridge once its use has been decided." Quote is from June 2012 MassDOT testimony at the Needham Library, article is Here |
Welcome !
The Friends of the Needham Rail Trail Greenway was formed in the Summer of 2012 to focus on 4.8 miles of a proposed 18-mile trail that could incorporate the communities of Newton, Needham, Dover, Medfield, Millis and Medway, linking the towns via an unused MBTA rail bed. The town of Needham has three distinct sections, extending from Newton to Dover. In July 2012 the MBTA board voted to to negotiate a lease with Needham, Newton, Medfield and Dover, so that each town could develop the unused rail line into a multi-use path, commonly called a rail trail or Greenway.
Mission Statement
The Friends of the Needham Rail Trail Greenway is a group of interested citizens with broad representation from the community working in partnership with residents, neighborhood associations, town and state government to support the financing, planning, design, construction and maintenance needs of the Greenway.
The Friends group will work to resolve engineering, environmental and safety concerns, including street crossings and bridges, parking and other amenities, dimensions and materials used to construct the path.
The Friends group will work to reduce the impact on and alleviate the concerns of abutters to the path; establish trail clearing and maintenance projects, develop financial resources to design and construct the path, and sponsor fund raising campaigns and grant applications with the goal of minimizing any expense to the town, and to provide a safe, healthy recreation and transportation option for the entire community.
Distance Measurements:
Total Distance — 4.8 miles
Mission Statement
The Friends of the Needham Rail Trail Greenway is a group of interested citizens with broad representation from the community working in partnership with residents, neighborhood associations, town and state government to support the financing, planning, design, construction and maintenance needs of the Greenway.
The Friends group will work to resolve engineering, environmental and safety concerns, including street crossings and bridges, parking and other amenities, dimensions and materials used to construct the path.
The Friends group will work to reduce the impact on and alleviate the concerns of abutters to the path; establish trail clearing and maintenance projects, develop financial resources to design and construct the path, and sponsor fund raising campaigns and grant applications with the goal of minimizing any expense to the town, and to provide a safe, healthy recreation and transportation option for the entire community.
Distance Measurements:
- North Section (The Charles River town line with Newton to the new Senior Center at Needham Heights) 1.13 miles
- Middle Section (Needham Heights to Needham Junction, as an on-and-off-street path running parallel to the active commuter rail, and connecting the town center, Library and High School) 1.75 miles
- South Section (The Charles River town line with Dover to Needham Junction) 1.92 miles
Total Distance — 4.8 miles
North section: Newton town line to Needham Heights
North Section (The Charles River town line with Newton to the new Senior Center at Needham Heights) 1.13 miles
click to enlarge
click to enlarge
North Section (The Charles River town line with Newton to the new Senior Center at Needham Heights) 1.13 miles
Middle Section: Needham Heights to Needham Junction
Middle Section (Needham Heights to Needham Junction, as an on-and-off-street path running parallel to the active commuter rail, and connecting the town center, Library and High School) 1.75 miles
Middle Section (Needham Heights to Needham Junction, as an on-and-off-street path running parallel to the active commuter rail, and connecting the town center, Library and High School) 1.75 miles
South section: Dover town line to Needham Junction
South Section (The Charles River town line with Dover to Needham Junction) 1.92 miles click to enlarge
South Section (The Charles River town line with Dover (125 Fisher Street) to Needham Junction) 1.92 miles
Get Involved - Have fun while helping Needham
Ashuwillticook Rail Trail (Berkshires)
Are you looking to work with fun people to make our town even better? In particular, would you like to join the board of this non-profit? Contact us !
Needed roles include (listed alphabetically):
Needed roles include (listed alphabetically):
- Attorney
- Bicycle / Pedestrian Safety
- Communications and messaging
- Construction supervision
- Environment and Green Issues
- Fundraising
- Government relations
- Grassroots canvassing
- Health and Fitness
- Issue advocacy
- Merchant Associations
- Parks and recreation
- Public event organization and logistics
- Public relations
- Schools and Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
- Senior Center
- Transportation planning
- Treasurer / Accounting
- Urban design
- Volunteer Coordinator
- Youth Representative
Interactive Map of the Needham Greenway -- click to zoom
View Needham Rail Trail in a larger map
Help Wanted:
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