RE: Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Project in Sudbury and Concord (608164) Programming on the FFY 2022-2026 TIP Dear Chair Mohler and Members of the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization

We, the undersigned legislators representing the towns of Acton, Concord and Sudbury, write to you in strong support of the inclusion of the Sudbury and Concord Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, Phase 2D project (Project ID 608164, BFRT Phase 2D) for federal fiscal year (FFY) 2022 construction in the Draft FFYs 2022-2026 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) document. Phase 2D of the BFRT (Project ID 608164) will constitute almost 5 miles of trail including the unbuilt portion of the BFRT Phase 2C from Powder Mill Road in Concord to the Sudbury town line, and the 4.6-mile Sudbury segment from Concord Town line south to Station Road. Phase 2D of the BFRT will connect to approximately 14 miles of the BFRT to the north which is either built or under construction (Phase 2B the one-mile section dominated by the bridge over Route 2 in Concord and Acton is now scheduled to open in spring 2022).

We thank you for including the BFRT Phase 2D for advertisement for construction for FFY 2022 in the FFYs 2022-2026 Draft TIP. The BFRT and rail trails in general have many benefits to the communities they connect, including safe transportation routes to recreation areas, businesses, schools, public transportation, retail establishments, and conservation areas. The Town of Sudbury, through Town Meetings with broad voter support, has allocated more than one million dollars to the design of the project and remains committed to this important priority regional project. The Town of Sudbury has also acquired the BFRT right-of-way to the Framingham border. The FBFRT also is working with the City of Framingham and local, state, and federal elected officials to help Framingham acquire the remaining portion of BFRT right-of-way to in the city, and thus providing the realistic goal of extending the FBFRT just west of Framingham State University. It is realistic that the benefits of the Phase 2D section will be further enhanced by a future connection to the south, including the Sudbury commercial district, the Nobscot and Route 9 corridor Framingham sections. For these reasons we strongly support the inclusion of Phase 2D of the BFRT in the FFYs 2022-2026 TIP for FFY 2022 construction.

Thank you for your consideration.