East Coast GreenwayFive major investments will advance the East Coast Greenway
From Massachusetts to North Carolina, five major public investment victories announced in recent weeks will help advance trail development along the East Coast Greenway:
- Massachusetts: $1.8 million in MassTrails Grants to Greenway projects
- Connecticut: $40 million in federal support over five years to maintain and enhance the Air Line State Park Trail
- Pennsylvania: $164 million to Greenway segments in greater Philadelphia via the federal Transportation Improvement Program
- Pennsylvania & New Jersey: $850,000 awarded by DVRPC to Greenway projects
- North Carolina: $14 million allocated for trails in new state budget
“We are grateful for these visionary investments from local, state and federal leaders to develop the East Coast Greenway,” said East Coast Greenway Alliance Executive Director Dennis Markatos-Soriano. “Working alongside our partners to secure such investment is a key objective of our work. The return on these investments in terms of economic development, health, environmental and other benefits will be transformative.” As state and federal departments of transportation spend tens of billions annually to maintain and build out roads, East Coast Greenway investments like these are key to expanding safe routes for everyone to bike and walk in their neighborhood, for their commute and beyond. Ahead of this fall’s important elections, we encourage you to learn more about ways to get involved and advocate for additional support for Greenway projects.
“The return on these investments in terms of economic development, health, environmental and other benefits will be transformative.”
Massachusetts: Grants support Greenway projects
In Massachusetts, nearly $1.8 million of the recently awarded 2026 MassTrails Grants will support East Coast Greenway projects. Roughly $1.2 million was awarded to segments of the rapidly expanding Border to Boston Trail, a partially complete and envisioned 70-mile segment of the East Coast Greenway that will link 20 communities from Boston north to the New Hampshire border.
Highlights of the funded Greenway projects include
- Boxford, Boxford Rail Trail: $223,760 for design and permitting work on a new 1.5-mile segment north of Boston
- Georgetown to Newbury: $864,458 to design and permit segments linking Georgetown’s town center to the Byfield village in Newbury
- Swampscott, Swampscott Rail Trail: $100,000 to advance final design of the Swampscott Rail Trail segment
- Sandwich, Cape Cod Canal Path: $500,000 for preliminary design of a new shared-use path that will connect the recently opened extension of the Service Road
Connecticut: Air Line State Park Trail slated for $40 million investment
Governor Ned Lamont, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Connecticut Department of Social Services recently announced that Connecticut has secured more than $7 million in first-year funding to expand access to safe, free, outdoor recreation opportunities on the Air Line State Park Trail segment of the East Coast Greenway. The 60-mile multi-use trail in northeastern Connecticut draws walkers, runners, hikers, bikers, horseback riders and more from across the region. In total, $40 million is expected over a five-year period to enhance health throughout the region.
Pennsylvania: $164 million to major Greenway segments via federal TIP
In July, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) Board adopted the Draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for Pennsylvania to receive and spend federal funds towards transportation improvement priorities in Southeast Pennsylvania. The TIP, which includes the largest amount ever programmed for Greater Philadelphia’s Circuit Trails network, features a $164 million investment in East Coast Greenway projects, including:
- North Delaware Riverfront Greenway project, Section 3: Delaware River Trail in Northeast Philadelphia
- PA 291 Drainage Improvement: East Coast Greenway in Ridley Township
- Spring Garden Connector: East Coast Greenway from the Delaware River Trail to Pennsylvania Avenue
- PA 291 Complete Streets, Irving Street to Ridley Creek: East Coast Greenway in the City of Chester
- State Road Reconstruction: Extension of the River Road Trail in Bristol Township
In addition, the I-95: Delaware Avenue Extension (BS5) investment also includes an important segment of the East Coast Greenway along the Delaware River Trail between the Port Richmond Trail and K&T Trail.
Learn more from WHYY.
Pennsylvania & New Jersey: DVRPC awards $850,000 to Greenway projects
At its June meeting, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission approved support for three East Coast Greenway projects among grants for 17 trails and trail connections in New Jersey and Pennsylvania’s Circuit Trails network. The Greenway projects include:
- Delaware River Heritage Trail – Baldwin’s Run – $400,000: Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority will design a segment of the Delaware River Heritage Trail between 29th and 36th streets in the City of Camden.
- East Coast Greenway – River Road Trail – $312,200: The Pennsylvania Environmental Council will design a segment of the East Coast Greenway along River Road between Croydon Woods Nature Preserve and State Road in Bristol Township. The project is funded for construction through the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program.
- Cobbs Creek Trail – Phase B2 – $129,913: The City of Philadelphia will acquire right-of-way for segment B2 of the Cobbs Creek Trail in Philadelphia. This project is funded for construction.
Support for this round of the Regional Trails Program was made possible by the generous support of the long-time Alliance partner the William Penn Foundation.
North Carolina: $15 million for trails in new state budget
The newly approved North Carolina state budget allocates $14 million for trails in the upcoming fiscal year. Approximately $8.5 million will support the Great Trails State Program, which “provides funding for new trail development and extension of existing trails anywhere in the state of North Carolina.” In 2025, East Coast Greenway projects were awarded $1.4 million in funding in the inaugural year of the program.
Also in the new budget, more than $4 million will support the Complete the Trails Program, which will be available statewide for the specific purpose of developing official state trails. The East Coast Greenway was designated as a North Carolina State Trail in 2021.
Since 2021, the Great Trails State Coalition has secured more than $76 million for trails in North Carolina. The East Coast Greenway Alliance has been an engagement member of the coalition since its founding.
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