Proposed Boston Bike Paths and Trails

Charles River Bikepath Harbor Extension

The Charles River Bikepath can be extended downstream to the Charles River Dam, at least on the north side. It could then connect to a Charlestown Waterfront Path to the north and the Boston Redevelopment Authority's proposed Harbor Walk to the south. Information about the so-called New Charles River Basin is available online.

Charles River Upstream Extension

The Charles River Bikepath can be extended upstream from Watertown to Brook Farm in West Roxbury and to the Mother Brook in Dedham. The MDC is working on the first stage, to Newton Lower Falls. Their plans are available online.

Boston Harbor Path

The MDC is working on a continuous pathway from Castle Island in South Boston to Neponset Circle in Dorchester. The path is complete from Castle Island around Columbia Point, except for 100 feet of grass next to the Kennedy Library, and south along Morrisey Boulevard, though not all of it is in good shape. Some of the best water views of Boston are available from the north side of Columbia Point. There is a bit of path at Victory Road Park, and the MDC has an easement across Boston Gas property which would link this to the Morrisey Ave. drawbridge, bypassing some awkward expressway ramps. The path picks up at Tenean Beach in Port Norfolk, and back streets connect it to the harbor end of the Neponset River Greenway.

Boston Harbor Walk

The Boston Redevelopment Authority has studied an almost continuous public walk from the North End to South Boston. The MDC is working on a continuous pathway from Castle Island in South Boston to Neponset Circle in Dorchester. The path is complete around Columbia Point, including a path around the Kennedy Library.

Charlestown Waterfront Bikepath

We have the beginning in the Paul Revere Landing Park, which is fairly easily connected to the USS Constitution and the Charlestown Navy Yard, through which bikes, but not cars, can pass. Now the Boston Redevelopment Authority has to reserve waterfront space to get bikes and pedestrians to the Broadway (Route 99) Bridge over the Mystic River. The abandonment of the Mystic Wharf Branch rail line may provide an opportunity for an off-road connection from the harbor to Broadway (Route 99).

East Boston Greenway

An abandoned railroad right-of-way, donated to the Boston Natural Areas Fund in 1996, connects marshes, beaches, playing fields, Logan Airport, MBTA stations, and residential areas throughout the East Boston community. In 1999, ISTEA enhancements money is funding construction of the southernmost half-mile, from Boston Harbor north to Logan Airport. In the future, the Greenway will be extended to Belle Isle Marsh, on the northern edge of Boston, next to Revere, largely on MDC-owned land.

Emerald Necklace Greenway

MassBike is working on reconnecting Frederick Law Olmsted's original Emerald Necklace of parks and park ways so bicyclists and pedestrians do not have to take their lives in their hands as they try to cross the heavy traffic of the "parkways" along and across this park system which currently includes closed roads in the Arnold Arboretum and Franklin Park, the Jamaicaway Bikepath and the Muddy River Bikepath. Find out more at the Emerald Necklace Conservancy website.

South Bay Harbor Trail

This 3.5 mile trail will access Inner-city Boston to the Boston Harbor via Melnea Cass Boulevard and the southern Central Artery and Fort Point Channel corridors, connecting recreational and employment opportunities within the emerging South Boston Waterfront District. The South Bay Harbor Trail Coalition, composed of area businesses and institutions as well as community groups and other nonprofit entities, is working to coordinate construction and design of new highway infrastructure along the southern reaches of the Central Artery Project. An ISTEA grant is being used to assist in the planning and development of the trail alignment.

Adopted as a pilot project of the "Campaign for the Water's Edge", more information about Harbor Trail is available through Save the Harbor/Save the Bay of Boston, www.savetheharbor.org or (617)-451-2860. Groups or individuals interested in joining the SBHT Coalition may inquire by calling either SHSB or Michael Tyrrell (project founder and planning chair) at 617-441-7739.

West Roxbury Linear Park [Map] [Boston Open Space Plan]

This right-of-way, from the Star Market on Spring St. to the Dedham border, very close to the Dedham Mall, is owned by the MBTA. Originally, the Providence and New Haven line, it was closed in 1941 and later bought by the MBTA, probably at the same time as they acquired what is now the Needham Commuter Rail line. It is nearly intact in the city except for a missing bridge over Spring St. At the Dedham end, it runs into the Super Stop and Shop and is buried by the parking lot there. The bridge over the Mother Brook is long since gone, as is the right of way to Dedham Center. The location of the Dedham station is now the terminus of two trails planned by the Town of Dedham. The line originally continued on to Providence, but the next part of the right-of-way is now buried by U.S. 1. In early 1998, the MBTA expressed interest in selling off part of the line to developers, but no developers were chosen. The MBTA currently plans to sell of the right of way in the second half of 2003, with abutters apparently getting first chance at purchase. In deference to neighborhood opposition to a park, the City of Boston is not involved at this time.

Winthrop Greenway [Map]

This Greenway will be on MDC land along the Winthrop side of the Belle Isle Inlet, eventually connecting the East Boston Greenway to the ocean at Short Beach. The Greenway is currently a footpath, and paving is not planned, but it is interesting due to its connections.