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The Cochituate Rail Trail (CRT) is a proposed multi-use trail which will extend
from the Village of Saxonville in Framingham to Natick Center, a distance of
4 miles. The Framingham section of trail is currently under development and
the Natick section is in the planning stage.
As with most of the 1500 rail trails in the US today, the CRT will be heavily
used for walking, jogging, cycling, and possibly rollerblading. Wheel chair
users, dog walkers, birders, and parents pushing baby carriages will all find
a home here. Cross-country skiers will enjoy the trail during the winter months.
The CRT has the potential to become one of the most popular recreation facilities
in Metrowest.
The CRT will also be heavily used for transportation. Due to its close proximity
to office buildings, shopping centers, schools, and residential areas, it will
provide residents with an attractive alternative to driving. A planned connection
to the commuter rail station in Natick center will open the door to even greater
transportation use.
Much of the trail will be quite scenic; passing near streams and wetlands
in Framingham and along the shores of Lake Cochituate in Natick, the trail
will be a beautiful linear park providing valuable open space through heavily
developed sections of both towns.
The trail will use the Saxonville Branch rail line which travels southeast
from Saxonville and joins the active Boston to Worcester commuter line in Natick
Center. Built in 1846, the historic Saxonville Branch was used to construct
the dam for Lake Cochituate, which supplied water to the City of Boston from
1848 to 1951. The line also serviced the textile mills of Saxonville until
1973.
Please note that the CRT is not yet open for public use.
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