Dover Rail Trail Project Awarded $260,000 State Grant to Complete Final Design

Current conditions on the proposed Dover Rail Trail.
(Photo Courtesy Town of Dover)

DOVER — The Town of Dover is marking a milestone as it considers converting an existing railroad corridor into a multi-use path, after the community received a $260,000 state grant to advance the Dover Rail Trail project through its final design phase.

The final design phase of the project is expected to be completed by summer 2027.

The Dover Rail Trail project design would convert an existing railroad corridor into a 3.5-mile, multi-use path, which would extend from the Medfield town line to the Needham town line.

To wrap up the previous first half of the project’s design phase, the Town of Dover plans to update residents on the project and solicit additional public input. A meeting will be held with a presentation on the work done thus far, which was funded by a $184,760 state grant.

Click here for project updates and details.

The grant funding for the Dover Rail Trail project was awarded by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation through the MassTrails Grants Program. Since 2019, the MassTrails Grants Program has provided matching grants to local communities, public entities and nonprofits in order to plan, design, create and maintain the diverse network of hiker/pedestrian trails and shared-use paths. Many of these projects are “rail trail” projects, which entail the conversion of former or inactive railroads.

“This latest grant allows us to continue moving the Dover Rail Trail project forward and brings us closer to completing the design,” said Town Administrator Michael Blanchard. “We look forward to sharing our progress, gathering additional input from residents and developing a clearer understanding of the project’s scope, costs and next steps.”

Design work behind the Dover Rail Trail project is being completed by engineering firm TEC Inc., including preliminary trail alignment, aerial surveying, drainage assessments, traffic engineering and structural evaluations of two existing bridges along the corridor.

A preliminary estimate for the cost of construction for the Dover Rail Trail is $4.16 million — not including the replacement of the Charles River Bridge — plus %15 in construction contingencies.

“Thanks to our latest MassTrails Grant, we look forward to completing our design work on this project and developing a clearer picture of what a final product will look like,” said Mark Ghiloni, Dover’s Parks and Recreation Director. “As we move into the next phase, we look forward to gathering feedback from residents and further refining our plans to address the needs of the community.”

Once completed, the design for the Dover Rail Trail project will be brought to a future Town Meeting for a town vote.

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