City & CSX Negotiate $5 Million Price For Bruce Freeman Trail

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FRAMINGHAM – City of Framingham Mayor Charlie Sisitsky said tonight, October 25, the City has negotiated a $5 million price with CSX to purchase a parcel of land which would complete the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in this community.

“It was a monumental exercise,” said Mayor Sisitsky.

A purchase & sales agreement still needs to be finalized, said COO Mike Tusino.

The agreement would need to be voted on by the 11-member City Council before finalized.

The City of Framingham set aside $6 million towards the purchase, and “Louise and Sarky” were able to negotiate it down to $5 million, said Mayor Sisitsky.

The Mayor said his Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Louise Miller and the City Planning & Community Development Director Sarkis Sarkisian spent many hours on this deal.

Mayor Sisitsky said it was a top priority for his administration to complete this deal, when he took office in january.

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The previous administration had not done much with the negotiations.

“CSX was very happy to hear from us,” said Mayor Sisitsky.

“This is a huge achievement for the City,” said Mayor Sisitsky. “We should all celebrate.” We need to get the paperwork done and then get the final purchase and sales back to you (City Council).

This will bring a “first class rail trail” to the City of Framingham, said Mayor Sisitsky.

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The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail is a rail trail through the communities of Lowell, Chelmsford, Westford, Carlisle, Acton, Concord, Sudbury, and Framingham in Massachusetts, following the 25-mile route of the old New Haven Railroad Framingham & Lowell line. 

The trail has a 10-foot wide pavement, with a 2-foot wide packed shoulder on each side.

The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail is open to non-motorized uses such as cycling, jogging, and walking.

The Framingham negotiations is for phase III of the trail, and the trail would be developed on an unused railroad right of way currently owned by the
CSX corporation.

Phase III “completes the trail going through Sudbury and Framingham for a total of 4.6 miles.” The Town of Sudbury had already negotiated its portion.

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