June 28, 2021 | Paula Crerar We’re thrilled to announce that the MBTA and the Town of Medfield have signed the agreement to lease the Medfield segment of the abandoned railroad track. Read the press release below for details and next steps in the construction of the rail trail. Also, stay tuned for construction progress on this page or on our Facebook page. A million thanks for your help and support! Press release: MBTA and Town of Medfield Sign Lease for Medfield Rail TrailConstruction of the Rail Trail Planned for Summer 2021 Medfield, Mass. – June 28, 2021 – This month the Town of Medfield signed a 99-year lease with the MBTA for the 1.3-mile segment of the former Bay Colony Railroad line. The Town plans to build the Medfield Rail Trail, a multi-use trail along the unused rail corridor, from Ice House Road to the Dover Town Line. The Medfield Rail Trail will have a flat, stone dust surface and provide an accessible walking, running, horseback riding, and biking path for people of all ages. The Rail Trail, along with its connection to the Bay Circuit Trail, opens up safe links to hundreds of acres of town-owned recreation areas, and the former Medfield State Hospital campus. The project has been reviewed by the Medfield Conservation Commission to ensure that wetland resources near the Rail Trail are protected throughout construction of the trail and beyond. The Commission approved the Board of Selectmen’s application for the project in February. The Town of Medfield will put the project out for bid through an invitation for bid process and construction is planned for this summer. Once started, construction should be completed within two to three months. “I am very excited to see the Medfield Rail Trail come to fruition,” said Town Administrator, Kristine Trierweiler. “This has been a long-term resident-led initiative that will provide Medfield residents with a wonderful recreational amenity for many years.” The rail trail project in Medfield was initiated by the Friends of the Medfield Rail Trail (FMRT), a group of Medfield residents who, along with the Bay Colony Rail Trail Association (BCRTA), proposed the building of the trail, conducted a feasibility study, and brought the initiative to a Town Meeting vote, which was approved in May 2018. The groups raised funds from private donations via the Medfield Foundation and received grants from the state’s MassTrails Program to pay for the entire cost of the project. The FMRT is helping the Town manage the bid and construction process. The FMRT will update the Bay Colony Rail Trail Facebook page with progress and milestones on the project. About the Friends of Medfield Rail Trail The Friends of Medfield Rail Trail (FMRT) is a volunteer group of residents working toward the implementation of the Medfield Rail Trail. FMRT welcomes volunteers to help with this effort. If interested please contact FMRT at medfieldrailtrail@gmail.com. The FMRT, a Medfield Foundation initiative, is seeking additional private donations to fund benches, signage and various other amenities for the Rail Trail. Tax-deductible donations can be made either online at Medfieldfoundation.org, or checks can be mailed to Friends of the Medfield Rail Trail, c/o Medfield Foundation Inc., PO Box 745, Medfield, MA 02052. to learn more about the Friends of Medfield Rail Trail contact Michael Taylor at (508) 878-6599 or Paula Crerar at paula@crerars.net. # Media Contact:Paula Crerarpaula@crerars.netPhone: 1-774-469-0602