The Southampton Greenway is no longer just an idea. The right of way has been acquired, the engineering is well underway, MassDOT has allocated construction funds, and a public hearing is coming this summer (2026). This trail is being built.
Southampton has been working toward this for years. In December 2022 the Town acquired the right of way from the Pioneer Valley Railroad—the critical first step that made everything else possible. Early in 2023 the Town engaged Tighe & Bond, a local civil engineering firm, to begin the design process.
Securing funding for a project like this takes years of persistence and the right partners. The Southampton Greenway has benefited from a combination of MassTrails grants—a competitive state program that funds trail planning and construction—matched by Southampton’s Community Preservation funds. That local match has been essential to keeping the design work moving.
The biggest milestone came when over $16 million in federal funding was allocated in Massachusetts’s Transportation Improvement Plan—the state’s official roadmap for federally funded transportation projects. Getting a project into the TIP is a significant achievement that required the support of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and the Town of Southampton. It means the construction funding is real, committed, and on the books.
If you’ve never been through a MassDOT infrastructure project before, the terminology can be confusing. Here’s what the milestones actually mean.
The design process moves in stages—25%, 75%, and 100%—each representing how complete the engineering drawings are. At 25%, the overall route, grading, and major design decisions are established. This is the stage where the public has the most meaningful opportunity to weigh in, which is why MassDOT holds a formal hearing before work advances. At 75%, the drawings are detailed enough for contractors to begin estimating costs. At 100%, the plans are construction-ready.
Southampton’s 25% plan was submitted to MassDOT in Winter 2026. The public hearing this summer is your chance to see the plans and make your voice heard before the design is finalized.
This summer (2026) MassDOT will hold a public hearing where Southampton residents can review and comment on the 25% plan. From there the design advances to 75% and then 100%, with completion expected in 2027. Construction is scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2029, backed by over $16 million in federal funding already allocated in the state’s Transportation Improvement Plan.
As the design advances, the Friends of Southampton Greenway are already looking ahead to the trail experience itself. Amenities like bike racks, benches, and landscaping are part of the vision—small touches that make a trail feel welcoming and complete. To help make those a reality, we’re fundraising now through online donations, and we’re planning a larger community fundraiser to coincide with the MassDOT public hearing this summer. In the meantime, you’ll find us at events across Southampton and the Pioneer Valley—spreading the word, answering questions, and building the community that will one day use this trail together. If you’d like to support the project or find out where we’ll be next, visit our Get Involved page.
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