Lessons Learned

There are a number of other trails, paved and unpaved in the region. Most towns with rail trail projects have had the same debate over surface options. What can we learn from them?

• The Bruce Freeman rail trail (a north-south trail from Lowell to Framingham) will be a multi-use path
  • Chelmsford chose pavement; opened Aug., 2009
  • Acton approved the preliminary design for a paved path, 2008
  • Concord voters after a spirited campaign, approved and funded a paved path design, overturning the Selectmen's 'compromise option' for part stone dust and part pavement, 2008.
• Carlisle after recently constructing new stone dust town paths, paved them (2009) after encountering maintenance problems
• Minuteman National Park cannot use pavement because of its historic setting; Their paths are, however, not ADA (handicap access) compliant