To keep the next phase of the Mattapoisett Rail Trail on track, the Friends of the Mattapoisett Bike Path are asking the community to come out in force.

A public hearing with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. at Old Hammondtown School.

“This is a major milestone in the project,” said Bonne DeSousa, president of the Friends. “We have to pass now to keep on schedule.”

Detailed plans were submitted to MassDOT for the path’s extension from Mattapoisett Neck Road to Depot Street. Crossing marsh and Goodspeed Island meant taking into consideration a number of environmental factors through the design process.

The upcoming meeting will be part of the “25 percent review,” that MassDOT undergoes for each project. All those involved in the design process have worked hard to “see that there are no gaps in the planning process,” said DeSousa.

The bike trail lost its place on MassDOT’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) before and DeSousa doesn’t want to see that happen again.

The project was originally set for 2011 but was delayed due to the status of right of ways. All right of ways have now been secured, and if all goes well with the public hearing, construction should begin in fall 2015.

With all the competition for state funding, DeSousa stressed that members of the community and the South Coast area need to come out to support the bike path.

“It’s so easy for a project like this to fall down through the cracks of bureaucracy. That’s why it’s so important to have a good turnout to show them that people care and are watching and will put their time into it,” she said.

Those who cannot attend the Sept. 25 meeting are urged to write letters of support. A letter-writing rally will be held at the Mattapoisett Library Wednesday, Sept. 10 on 7 p.m.

More information about the bike path can be found at www.mattapoisettrailtrail.org.