Northern Strand Community Trail

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, and Saugus, along the former Saugus Branch Railroad of the Boston & Maine 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 help from the surrounding cities.

The trail in Malden in June 2015

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 state committed $1.5 million in February 2018 to complete design of the Lynn section.[5] A $13.7 million construction contract was awarded in February 2020 with the goal of finishing the Lynn portion of the trail, and extending the southern terminus of the trail south through Everett to the Mystic river.[6]

In September 2020 the governor of Massachusetts announced a grant of $150,000 to the city of Swampscott to build a linear park incorporating the Northern Strand along with several other existing trails.[7]

Ownership and future status
Further information: Saugus Branch Railroad ยง Later use

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[8] 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.[8]

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. "Baker-Polito Administration Awards $1.5 Million to Design Northern Strand Community Trail" (Press release). Massachusetts Department of Transportation. February 2, 2018.
  6. "Baker-Polito Administration Announces Construction Will Begin to Complete Northern Strand Community Trail" (Press release). Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. February 7, 2020.
  7. "Governor Baker announced Shared Streets and Space Grant Program". WWLP. 2020-09-10. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  8. Jessen, Klarke. "MBTA Advances Two Shared-Use Paths". mass.gov. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
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