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DCR update: $5 million EEA grant accelerates Sudbury–Hudson Mass Central Rail Trail work, but maintenance and horse use remain unresolved
Summary
The Department of Conservation and Recreation said it won a $5 million EEA grant toward an estimated $7 million Sudbury–Hudson Mass Central Rail Trail (MCRT) segment, aims to advertise for a contractor this winter and spend grant funds by June 30; the committee discussed design details at the Diamond Junction, crossings, wayfinding, maintenance responsibilities, and whether horses should be allowed on the paved trail.
Amber (DCR project manager) told the Sudbury Rail Trail Advisory Committee that the DCR portion of the Mass Central Rail Trail Sudbury–Hudson segment received a $5,000,000 award from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) toward an approximately $7,000,000 project. Amber said design is roughly 75% complete and the project is on the MassDOT TIP process, with an anticipated construction add date in the 2027 timeframe; DCR’s goal is to hire a contractor by February so large paving work can be under way in spring and grant funds can be spent by the June 30 deadline.
Amber described the Diamond Junction concept as a bicycle-priority roundabout using stamped concrete splitter islands, granite curbing and historic rail tracks set flush in the paving to acknowledge the corridor’s railroad heritage. She said designers plan interpretive panels and wayfinding (trailhead parking, Town Center, Morse Road) but warned against over-cluttering signage. Amber noted Eversource completed substantial earthwork and bridge work that reduced the DCR construction scope, but said the three-town project remains complex because of orders of conditions, natural heritage constraints and multiple landowners.
On crossings and safety, Amber said two higher-volume locations — Main Street (Hudson) and Route 20 — are planned to receive HAWK-style pedestrian crossing controls (pedestrian-activated signals). She described a typical division of responsibilities: DCR would handle major capital improvements such as repaving or underpass repairs, while routine maintenance and vegetation management commonly rely on a combination of Town and DCR operations. Amber cautioned DCR is under-resourced for long-term operations across the growing network and encouraged local town support for vegetation and day-to-day upkeep.
Committee members raised questions about horses on the trail. Amber said in other regional examples horse use is limited to segments built with a heavier gravel subbase to withstand hooves; the Sudbury–Hudson segment does not include that design throughout, and Amber said she is not personally inclined to allow horses on the paved path. Public commenter Chris Meng said he has observed frequent horse traffic (hoof prints) between Hopbrook/Hot Brook and Dutton Road and reported damage to newly planted and graded trail edges. Amber acknowledged some crossings and informal horse use occur but stated DCR has not adopted a specific policy change at this meeting.
On timing and next steps, Amber said the project team will finalize design documents and estimates through December to ensure good bid responses and that she will present the Diamond Junction drawings to the Sudbury Historic Commission and the Conservation Commission. She also asked the committee to send known drainage problem locations to inform contractor estimates. The committee and staff agreed to continue coordination with DCR on design details, interpretive-sign placement and operations agreements between DCR and the towns.
Ending: Amber said she will follow up with the committee on specific conditions, schedule milestones and the handoff plan for operations; the committee recommended collecting local maintenance requirements and drainage notes for the contractor procurement process.
