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Minuteman Bikeway,<br>Massachusetts

The evening commute on the trail is a busy time.

The <a href="http://www.minutemanbikeway.org">Minuteman Bikeway</a> is an 11-mile rail-trail that connects Cambridge with Bedford, passing through Lexington and Arlington. This project converted an abandoned railroad, which provided passenger and freight service from 1846 to 1981 (Passenger service discontinued in 1977), into a multi-use bikeway. Over $2 million in federal TE funds were awarded to four projects that leveraged a total local match of nearly $530,000 to construct portions of the trail.

Connecting to the Alewife T Station in Cambridge, this bikeway serves as a regional connector providing pedestrians and bicyclists with access to subway and bus service. In addition, plowing in the winter makes the rail-trail accessible year-round. The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy inducted the Minuteman Bikeway into the national <a href="http://www.railstotrails.org/ourWork/promotingTrailUse/trailRecognition/hallOfFame/index.html">Rails-Trail Hall of Fame</a> in 2008. An interactive Google Map is available <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=109226583957077835668.000465e72b5c80776ecd6&cd=20&geocode=FdjhgwIdyKe_-w&sll=41.524545,-73.895818&sspn=2.569111,6.049236&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=42.440434,-71.218529&spn=0.176595,0.308647&z=12">here</a>.

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The evening commute on the trail is a busy time. The Minuteman Bikeway is an 11-mile rail-trail that connects Cambridge with Bedford, passing through Lexington and Arlington. This project converted an abandoned railroad, which provided passenger and freight service from 1846 to 1981 (Passenger service discontinued in 1977), into a multi-use bikeway. Over $2 million in federal TE funds were awarded to four projects that leveraged a total local match of nearly $530,000 to construct portions of the trail. Connecting to the Alewife T Station in Cambridge, this bikeway serves as a regional connector providing pedestrians and bicyclists with access to subway and bus service. In addition, plowing in the winter makes the rail-trail accessible year-round. The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy inducted the Minuteman Bikeway into the national Rails-Trail Hall of Fame in 2008. An interactive Google Map is available here.

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The National Transportation Alternatives Clearinghouse provides information on the Transportation Alternatives Program funded by FHWA. To be eligible for TA funds, a project must relate to surface transportation and be one of the 10 TA Activities. For more information about the TA program see trade.railstotrails.org. For our licensing policy see our guidelines.

Transportation Alternatives Data Exchange

@ the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

202-974-5110

2121 Ward Court, NW, 5th Floor

Washington, D.C. 20037-1213