Franklin County Bikeway

In 1985 the Franklin County Bikeway Committee prepared a preliminary plan for a bikeway in Franklin County. The plan did not receive funding and the bikeway was never constructed. In light of the significant changes that have taken place since 1985 (Clean Air Act Amendments 1990 (CAAA), Intermodel Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) 1991) that have affected the planning, priorities, and the levels and types of funding available, the Franklin County Commission has taken action to revive and update the 1985 proposal and secure funding for its construction.

The proposed Bikeway travels through six Franklin County communities: Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Greenfield, Montague (the villages of Turners Falls and Montague City), and Northfield. Its 22.7 mile length primarily consists of a loop through Greenfield, Deerfield, Montague, and Gill, with a spur south to Historic Deerfield, and a spur north to the Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center. It includes a combination of bike paths, bike lanes and bike routes/shared roadways. It provides access to employment, educational, cultural and recreational sites, and is also quite scenic having been mapped to follow along the banks of the Connecticut, Deerfield, Fall and Green rivers.


A Map of the proposed Franklin County Bikeway