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We see it more and more these days - rail-trails as economic development assets. Cities and towns across America are developing rail-trail networks in order to make their area more attractive, drawing new residents and businesses and providing an environment where people want to live. We are also seeing entrepreneurs finding business opportunities connected to destination rail-trails - lodging, services and other operations are launching next to rail-trails from Maine to California. Like this one...

Terrific news out of Holliston, Mass., this week, with the generous donation of a parcel of land to make possible the continued development of the Upper Charles Rail Trail . The Upper Charles Rail Trail is being developed in sections as the land and funding becomes available, driven by a strong local group of volunteers always willing to roll the sleeves up. When complete it will run through Sherborn, Holliston, Milford, Hopkinton and Ashland in eastern Massachusetts. According to this story at Metro...

Exciting plans for the Bay Colony Rail Trail southwest of Boston, Mass., took a big step toward fruition this month with the Needham Board of Selectmen unanimously supporting funding a study necessary to move the rail-trail project forward. The support of Needham officials was seen as a crucial piece of the puzzle in building the seven miles of rail-trail along a disused section of rail corridor (right) linking the towns of Medfield, Dover, Needham and Newton. According to an article posted yesterday...

The residents and businesspeople of Saugus, close to the Massachusetts coastline, are celebrating today with the long-awaited beginning of work on their section of the Northern Strand Community Trail. "I think it's awesome," Saugus Board of Selectmen Vice-chairmen Steve Castinetti told the Daily Item last week . "It's a huge step up for the town, and I think it will bring a lot of interest to the town. This is a win-win for the business community, as well, if we could get people from outside of Saugus...

The communities of Southbridge and Dudley in southern Massachusetts are showing great determination and ingenuity in pursing their rail-trail ambitions. The Worcester Telegram & Gazette reported last week that local officials have been able to save tens of thousands of dollars in the construction of trail bridges crossing the Quinebaug River by doing the design and engineering work themselves, and reusing existing girders at the build sites. The towns are also stockpiling the train tracks, which...

By Carol Waaser and Karin Fantus Karin and I had started planning more than a month in advance. It would be a six-day, self-contained, inn-to-inn tour during the Labor Day weekend, leaving New York City on September 1 and returning September 6. Who knew the Northeast would be slammed by Hurricane Irene on August 28? Our planned route was up to Pawling, N.Y., then across western Connecticut and north through western Massachusetts, finally crossing just into New Hampshire. We would return through the...

A few weeks ago, we reported on tornado damage to the Virginia Creeper Trail in southwest Virginia. Now, at the end of last week, we received news that a tornado directly hit the Connecticut River Walk and Bikeway in Springfield, Mass. Jeffrey McCollough of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission snapped a few photos on Thursday, June 9. He says trees were down across the stretch of trail between Memorial Bridge and LA Fitness, including Riverfront Park. Other sections of the River Walk were impassable...