Unused Rail Line May Become a Walking, Biking Path

Bushes and grass have sprouted up between the ties of the old railroad line stretching through East Watertown, and the unused track may become a walking and bicycle path which would attach existing paths in Watertown and Cambridge.

In late June, Pan Am Railways informed Watertown officials of their plan to abandon 1.72 miles of the former Boston & Maine Railroad track known as the Watertown Branch.They requested input from town officials.

Town Councilor Angeline Kounelis, who represent's the Eastside of town, said that she has heard complaints about the state of the unused rail line.

"Cottage Street is a dead end, and the railroad cuts right through," Kounelis said. "It is overgrown and people do not feel comfortable walking to Mt. Auburn Street at night (because of the path)."

She would like to see the track turned into a

Councilor and State Rep. John Lawn said the path could be a key link in the network of paths.

"It would be an important connection for the path from Grove Street to Cambridge," Lawn said.

The section proposed to be abandoned begins at Cottage Street in Watertown and heads northeast, crossing under Mt. Auburn Street near and then passes around the east side of Fresh Pond in Cambridge. It ends where the rail spur hits the rail line behind Cambridge's Fresh Pond Shopping Center.

Billerica-based Pan Am Railways owns some of the tracks of three former New England railroads: Boston & Maine Corp., Springfield Terminal Railway Co. and Maine Central Railroad Co.

Kounelis spoke with officials at the state Department of Recreation and Conservation, who told her that they have plans in fiscal 2012 to ask for proposals to build a path.

The Town has until July 8 to submit comments to Pan Am Railway about the proposed abandonment of the track. At last week's Town Council meeting Councilor Vincent Piccirilli said he did not know of any adverse effect to the town from the abandonment of the track.