50 Years Of The Cape Cod Rail Trail: How State And Local Support Keeps Cape Codders Running, Walking And Biking

For over 400,000 people each year, the Cape Cod Rail Trail is a regular source of transportation and recreation. But who maintains it?

 Tom Corrigan, advocacy chair for the Friends of the Cape Cod Rail Trail, said it's a collaborative effort between the Massachusetts departments of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and Transportation and the Friends. 

 The original railroad line was open for public transportation just after the Civil War in 1865. According to historical records, the Cape Cod Central Railroad merged with the Cape Cod Railroad and was incorporated into the Old Colony Railroad in 1872. It was incorporated into the New York, New Haven and Hartford line in 1893. Eventually passenger numbers dwindled and the railroad went bankrupt. In 1976, a portion of the corridor was purchased by the state and converted into the rail trail by the DCR.

 Today, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) owns most of the rail trail and leases it to the DCR for recreational use. 

 The Friends of the Cape Cod Rail Trail was established in the early 2000s with the mission to promote use of the trail, inform residents and visitors about the trail and support maintenance efforts, improvements and extension projects. 

 Maintenance costs are included in the state budget, usually based on usage statistics. The Friends will perform manual trail counts throughout the season to help support funding requests. Repairs are predominantly determined by the available budget. 

 Corrigan said the original pavement was softer than commercial asphalt, increasing the chances of tree roots ripping through the trail. In 2024, Nickerson State Park Field Supervisors Rene Morin and Susie Johnston worked to start repaving efforts. The trail spanning from Nickerson State Park to Eastham was completed last year. At the beginning of this season, Nickerson State Park to Harwich will be repaved.

 In addition to pavement repairs, Morin and Johnston have coordinated dead tree removal and brush clearing along the sides of the trail. 

 In 2023, DCR extended the rail trail from Lecount Hollow Road to Wellfleet Hollow State Campground, said Corrigan. MassDOT is currently waiting for completion of the Route 6A work in order to add a parking area and open that portion of the trail. 

 The long-term goal for the rail trail is a complete, uninterrupted path from the canal bridges to Provincetown, but Corrigan said he does not think we will see that in our lifetime. 

 Currently, MassDOT is working on installing shared-use pathways in Provincetown.

 On May 11, Corrigan received word that State Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Cape and Islands, was introducing new legislation that would hopefully provide maintenance funds for the rail trail. 

 Safety measures have also increased at the intersections of the trail and high-use areas. Flashing lights were installed to warn vehicles to stop when a pedestrian or biker is approaching the intersection. 

 While state budgets impose restrictions on repairs and maintenance, Corrigan hopes spreading the word about the trails will increase visibility and raise awareness for what needs to be done. He also said he wants residents and visitors to be aware of the alternative means of transportation, since the trail spans approximately 26 miles throughout the area. 

 To become a member of the Friends of the Cape Cod Rail Trail, visit fccrt.org.