Trails

BROWN, RICHARDSON

+ ROWE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND PLANNERS

Quequechan River Rail Trail Fall River, MA image © Gregg Shupe

TRAILS

OUR PHILOSOPHY

With over 40 years of experience, Brown, Richardson + Rowe has an established trail design history. Transforming abandoned and underutilized rail corridors into rail trails creates alternative public transportation routes and provides opportunities for much needed recreation, exercise, and natural respite.

Where rail corridors previously divided neighborhoods, rail trails can provide opportunities for community interaction and gathering. Through active engagement with local communities, we can help cities and trail groups revitalize these underutilized areas.

In each project, BRR thoughtfully examines trailhead design, signage, pavement materials, sight distances, horizontal and vertical layout, width and gradients of trail and shoulders based on AASHTO standards, trail edge clearance to vertical elements at shoulders, intersection treatments, center line, and warning pavement markings. We also identify locations for neighborhood connections and other opportunities for community benefit.

Quequechan River Rail Trail Fall River, MA

image © gregg shupe

Logan Greenway Connector East Boston, MA image © Alex MacLean

EAST BOSTON GREENWAY

EAST BOSTON, MA

CLIENT: Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Massport, and the City of Boston

SIZE: 2.8 Miles

COMPLETION: 2016

AWARDS: Finalist, Urban Land Institute Amanda Burden Urban

Open Space Award For Bremen Street Park

BRR designed four East Boston Greenway projects: Bremen Street Park, the Logan Greenway Connector, the Narrow Gauge Trail and Constitution Beach. The East Boston Greenway now allows people to cycle or walk from Boston Harbor through Bremen Street Park, past the Airport Station, to Wood Island Station, on to Wood Island Marsh, and to Constitution Beach.

Logan Greenway Connector East Boston, MA image © Janet Knott East Boston Greenway East Boston, MA image © Alex MacLean

This Greenway has become a heavily used and vital connection for local communities to experience a range of recreational facilities, transportation modes, and important regional destinations.

Constitution Beach East Boston, MA image © Alex MacLean

Bremen Street Park

East Boston, MA

image © Christopher Barnes

image © Brian Pearson image © Dave Weed

QUEQUECHAN RIVER RAIL TRAIL

FALL RIVER, MA

CLIENT: Executive Office Of Energy And Environmental Affairs, The City Of Fall River, MassDOT

SIZE: 2 Miles

COMPLETION: 2017

AWARDS: Finalist, 2018 Urban Open Space Award, Urban Land Institute

BRR planned and designed the Quequechan River Rail Trail in Fall River, MA. The trail follows the path of an old railroad causeway that runs through the middle of the Quequechan River, crossing over eight wooden bridges. Two neighborhoods, divided by Interstate 195, are now connected and new access is provided to two riverfront parks: Britland Park and Father Travassos Park. BRR designed the trail wayfinding signs and interpretive signs that inform visitors of the local history and ecology.

image © Brian Pearson

image © Gregg Shupe

image © Gregg Shupe

THE NORTHERN STRAND

EVERETT, LYNN, MALDEN, REVERE, AND SAUGUS, MA

CLIENT: Executive Office Of Energy And Environmental Affairs And The Cities Of Everett, Lynn, Malden, Revere, And Saugus

SIZE: 12 Miles

COMPLETION: 2022

The Northern Strand, long desired by the communities through which it passes and the advocacy group Bike to the Sea, received a grant from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ Gateway City Parks Program. Brown, Richardson + Rowe heads the team that designed the twelve mile multi-use trail. The twelve mile Northern Strand will pass through five communities – Everett, Lynn, Malden, Revere, and Saugus on the rail bed of the former Saugus Branch Railroad – and will be accessible to tens of thousands of residents.

This key route will connect four Gateway Cities and provide access to the growing network of Mystic River trails. The Northern Strand will not only deliver recreational and public health benefits, but the completed path will also serve as a commuting route and provide access to hundreds of businesses. Research shows that for trips of less than three miles, many people will choose to bike if they have a safe route such as the Northern Strand. Trail sections in Everett and Malden are largely complete, thanks to earlier efforts, while more substantial work remains in Revere, Saugus, and Lynn. Construction of the former rail ROW portion of the trail was completed in 2022.

CONTACT US: BROWN, RICHARDSON + ROWE, INC.

65 FRANKLIN ST., 4TH FLOOR

BOSTON, MA 02110 USA

(t): 617.542.8552

(e): info@brownrowe.com

(w): www.brownrowe.com

Fall River, MA

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