Northern Strand Community Trail

The trail in Malden in June 2015

The Northern Strand Community Trail, also known as the Bike to the Sea Trail, is a 10-mile bicycle path and walking trail project which connects the cities of Everett, Malden, Revere, Saugus, and Lynn, Massachusetts along the former Boston & Maine Railroad's Saugus Branch Railroad. The trail is part of the East Coast Greenway, a project planning to connect almost 3,000 miles of trail from Calais, Maine to Key West, Florida.[1] The path has been planned by Bike to the Sea, a non-profit cycling advocacy group, with helps from the surrounding cities.

History

The trail at the Malden/Revere border in June 2015

The Everett and Malden sections of the trail were opened with a granular recycled asphalt surface in summer 2012 and paved with an asphalt surface in August 2013[2][3][4] Iron Horse Preservation completed the surfacing of the Saugus section of the trail with gravel. The Revere portion of the trail opened to the public with a recycled asphalt surface in Summer 2015. The final segment of the trail through Lynn is awaiting City approval.[5] The state committed $1.5 million in February 2018 to complete design.[6]

Ownership and future status

The trail primarily runs along the Saugus Branch Railroad, a former branch line of the Boston and Maine Railroad. The trail's right of way is leased from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority for 99 years[7] by the respective cities the trail passes through, except in Lynn; if Lynn approves the trail in their borders, they will likely sign a similar lease. Like many nearby rail-trails, these leases include a reversion clause should the right of way be deemed more useful for other transportation uses.[7]

Amenities

The trail features a growing number of amenities by the wayside. The first community garden opened in Malden, between Faulkner and Bryant streets, with more gardens planned. Benches overlook marshes in Saugus and Revere.

References

  1. ↑ "NORTHERN STRAND COMMUNITY TRAIL BECOMES PART OF EAST COAST GREENWAY" (PDF). East Coast Greenway Alliance. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  2. ↑ "Malden Bike Path Closed for Paving". WickedLocal. August 3, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Final phase of construction begins on Everett portion of Bike to Sea path". NoBo Magazine. July 16, 2013. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  4. ↑ Phelan, Sarah (January 15, 2010). "Bike to the Sea's trail shovel-ready". Saugus Advertiser. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  5. ↑ Bike to the Sea (June 4, 2014). "Trail News". Bike to the Sea. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Baker-Polito Administration Awards $1.5 Million to Design Northern Strand Community Trail" (Press release). Massachusetts Department of Transportation. February 2, 2018.
  7. 1 2 Jessen, Klarke. "MBTA Advances Two Shared-Use Paths". mass.gov. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
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