Pedestrian & Bicycle Crossing of the Fitchburg MBTA Commuter Rail Line

The Latest

The City is finalizing paperwork and a contract with the project design team. We are eager to start the project and kick off the public process sometime in early 2026. 

Final Feasibility Study Report

Please use the links below to view the final report studying the feasibility of building a pedestrian and bicycle crossing of the MBTA Fitchburg rail line. The report includes graphics showing conceptual drawings of overpass (bridge) and underpass (tunnel) options studied in 2023. The report explains the engineering and property constraints in the area and recommends a pedestrian and bicycle bridge to create a safe off-road connection between Rindge Avenue and Danehy Park. The report and appendices include conceptual sketches and opportunities and constraints associated with each of the over and under options studied.

• Feasibility Study Final Report
• Feasibility Study Appendices

Why Was An Overpass Recommended?

• Engineering Constraints: On the north side of the MBTA tracks there is a 9 foot by 6 foot stormwater culvert below ground. The underpass options would impact the culvert, requiring costly and complicated pump systems to maintain stormwater flows. On the south side of the tracks, the underpass options require major excavations in a former landfill which would likely result in exposing contaminated groundwater and soils.
• Property Constraints: The City owns a narrow parcel of land on the north side of the MBTA tracks that can accommodate ramping down from a bridge overpass. The underpass options studied require the use of MBTA land and private property for the ramping, which is much harder and more costly to negotiate rights to use.
• Visibility and Safety: The underpass options studied require two 90-degree turns, resulting in an uncomfortable environment below ground. These safety concerns were raised by many folks at the public meetings.

For all of these reasons the design team and City staff recommended to move forward with an overpass option in the Reconnecting Communities & Neighborhoods grant application.

Grant Awards for Design

In July 2025 the federal government rescinded roughly 80% of the Reconnecting Communities & Neighborhoods (RCN) grant previously awarded to the City. We have been working closely with the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) staff to replace the lost design funding in the amount of $2 million dollars. We're happy to report that we have successfully had the project added to the current fiscal year in the Transportation Improvement Program.

Project Background and Study Area

The study area is bounded by Alewife Brook Parkway, Rindge Avenue, Sherman Street, and the Danehy Park / Fresh Pond Mall area. The southern part of study area boundary also includes the former Watertown Branch rail parcel, which will become the Danehy-New Street Connector multi-use path. In 2022 when the Community Development Department began the Danehy-New Street Connector Path design project, City Council requested that we include funding for analysis to understand if the newly acquired city owned land offered new opportunities to create a crossing. The two links below include a study area map and a link to the Danehy-New Street Connector path web page.

• Please use this link to view a map of the study area in a new window.
• Please use this link to visit the Danehy-New Street Connector path web page. Note that the Danehy-New Street Connector Path Project is a separate project.

Adjacent to our study area, the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority has recently begun the Rindge Connectivity project. This project aims to improve the open space and connections at 362, 364, and 402 Rindge Avenue, as well as connections to essential community resources like nearby shopping areas and parks. To learn more about the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority project, please visit: https://www.cambridgeredevelopment.org/rindgeconnectivity.

Public Meeting #2 Recording and Presentation Materials

Thanks to those who joined us Thursday, September 14, 2023 to hear updates and learn about our plan to pursue design funding for the bridge crossing option. Please see below for related presentation materials.

• Please use this link to download an accessible PDF of the slide deck
• Please use this link to download a PDF of the Q and A report
• Please use this link to watch a recording of the video presentation. Using this link may require this passcode: +q*UYRs7

Public Meeting #1 Recording and Presentation Materials

Thanks to those who joined us Wednesday, June 21, 2023 to hear about the study and see the different graphics and understand the opportunities and challenges associated with the different underpass and overpass options developed as part of this feasibility study. Please see below for related presentation materials.

• Please use this link to download an accessible PDF of the slide deck
• Please use this link to download a PDF of the Chat / Q and A report
• Please use this link to watch a recording of the video presentation. Using this link may require this passcode: W+doBtZ6

Sign up for Email Alerts

Please use this link to sign up for email alerts to stay updated about the planning study and receive invites to future events.

Contact

Please contact Charlie Creagh or Bill Deignan with any questions or comments.

Charlie Creagh | 617-349-9167 | ccreagh@cambridgema.gov

Bill Deignan | 617-349-4632 | wdeignan@cambridgema.gov