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Home > Streets + Transportation > Projects and Programs > Grand Junction Connector
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Grand Junction Connector

This map shows the regional path network including the Minuteman, Paul Dudley White Paths, Grand Junction Path, Mystic River Greenway Paths, Northern Strand, and Community Path. There is a small box indicating a missing link in this regional path network. This project will plan and design an off-road path connection to create this connection.

Overview

The City of Cambridge is kicking off the design of an accessible, off-road, multi-use path connection from the end of the future Grand Junction Path to the Community Path Extension in Northpoint.

This connection will enable safe off-road path connections between:

  • Cambridgeport, Kendall Square, and East Cambridge neighborhoods via the Grand Junction Path (design underway).
  • Gold Star Mothers Park, Twin Cities Plaza, and the North Point neighborhood.
  • Neighborhoods in Somerville including Davis Square, East Somerville, Brick bottom, and Inner Belt, along the Community Path.
  • The future connection to Downtown Boston via the Community Path extension in Northpoint and a future Upstream Bridge crossing the Charles River.

Background

The regional off-road path network in Cambridge and beyond has made great progress with the recent opening of the Community Path Extension to the Northpoint neighborhood in Cambridge. Additionally, there are many path projects under design that will help provide seamless off-road path travel for thousands of trips in Cambridge, Somerville, Boston and beyond. The following projects connect directly with this planning and design study:

  • The Grand Junction Multi-Use Path project continues to advance to final design.
  • The completed Gore Street path project created a connection from the end of the Grand Junction project at Gore Street, to Gore Street at Sixth St.
  • The McGrath Boulevard (Route 28) project: The City of Cambridge is working with the City of Somerville, MassDOT, and several property owners in the area to redesign McGrath Highway to include separated bike lanes from Somerville that connect to existing separated bicycle lanes which now end at Third Street in Cambridge. The intersection at Rufo Road is being redesigned and will include new separated two-way bicycle and pedestrian crossings across McGrath Highway, and a two-way path leading to the planned ramp in the future.
  • A future Upstream Bridge will connect from North Point over the Charles River to Boston, near North Station.

Project Scope

The project scope includes planning and 100% design documents for an accessible, multi-use, off-road path connecting the Grand Junction to the Community Path. After completing survey and review of existing conditions, the team will begin community engagement to discuss solutions on how to best make the connections between Grand Junction and the Community Path. Various design options will be discussed and evaluated with the community in order to select a preferred option that best works for all park and path users. Then the preferred option will be fully developed into 100% construction documents.

Project Schedule and Public Engagement

As part of the Gold Star Mothers Park Court Renovation Project, the City conducted environmental testing of park soils. Initial results identified contamination beneath the former basketball court. Follow-up testing has confirmed that similar contaminants are present in multiple areas throughout the park.

The identification of contaminated soil in Gold Star Mothers Park will slightly delay the planning and design of the Grand Junction Connector path project. We will provide updates under “The Latest” tab below. Please check back soon for an updated project public engagement schedule. Please use this link to visit the DPW page for more information about the Gold Star Mothers’ Park soils remediation.

This past summer, a series of pop-up events were held at Gold Star Mother’s park to let people know about the Grand Junction Connector Project. Events included the Book Bike and summer food program, off leash dog hours, and evening adult recreation league times where a team of staff shared information, answered questions, and listened to people’s ideas and concerns. These events helped spread the word and made sure community members knew the project was beginning and had a chance to get involved early.

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Project Goals

This map shows the northern end of the future Grand Junction path and the completed side path along Gore Street. It also shows the Community Path in North Point. The area in the middle of the map shows Twin Cities Plaza and Gold Star Mother’s Park. These locations are being evaluated for an off-road path connection. The path designed in this project will connect to the future Somerbridge Hotel ramp, which is planned to be a 10’ wide ramp to bridge the grade difference and bring path users to the top of the retaining wall at the rear of the property. MassDOT will construct a short two-pay path along Route 28 as well as a new crossing to connect to the path where it will end at Rufo Road. The City of Cambridge is working with MBTA to plan and design a short stretch of two-way path to connect from the top of the hotel ramp to the existing community path in North Point.
The project will design a safe and accessible off-road multi-use path connection from Gore Street at Sixth Street to the intersection of Rufo Road and McGrath Highway. The design team and City staff will evaluate options to route the path through Gold Star Mothers Park, around the park, as well as through Twin Cities Plaza. If a path route through the park is chosen, the design team will work to minimize impact on Gold Star Mothers Park users. Filling in this missing link will provide an accessible connection for many users that does not exist today. Click here to view the project study area map in a new window.

The Latest

Please check back soon for the latest project updates.

Questions?

• Email Cortney Kirk: Ckirk@cambridgema.gov
• Email Charlie Creagh: Ccreagh@cambridgema.gov


Past Events

July Pop-Ups: Thanks to all those who joined us at Gold Star Mothers Park for the pop-up events in July.

Community Meeting #1: Thanks to all those who joined us for the May 2025 Community Meeting #1 and site walk. City staff presented a slide deck about the background and goals of the project. Meeting attendees were invited on a site walk to view the Twin Cities Mall parking lot, Rufo Road, and Gold Star Mothers Park area.

Please use this link to view a PDF version of the slides presented at the May 21 meeting.

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