BOSTON — Representatives Mark Falzone and Katherine Clark and Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei announced the positive recommendation for $500,000 in funding for the Wakefield rail-trail project by the Legislature's Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets.
With this recommendation the funding for engineering and design costs for this project will remain in the comprehensive Transportation Bond Bill. This bill was previously released by the Joint Committee on Transportation and now awaits further approval by the House and the Senate.
Representative Falzone noted, "As a member of this committee I want to praise our entire Wakefield legislative delegation for their hard work to ensure a positive committee report. This significant state funding will be a big boost to our local rail-trial efforts and the committee's recommendation adds important momentum in favor of passage as the legislation is taken up by Ways and Means and the full House and Senate. The committee vote is a huge step forward for Wakefield and Lynnfield as rail-trail will provide benefits for the environment, transportation, health and recreation."
Representative Clark said, "It is a great step forward for this project that will provide tremendous benefits for Wake-field and the surrounding areas for health, recreation and the environment. I am so pleased to be part of this delegation that worked diligently to get the rail-trail funds included in the bond bill."
"A lot of hard work has gone into developing the local rail-trail and this latest vote of approval moves the project one step closer to fruition," said Senate Minority Leader Richard R. Tisei.
"The rail-trail will provide numerous recreational and environmental benefits to the residents of Wakefield and Lynnfield and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House to finalize this crucial funding proposal."
Wakefield Selectman Albert Turco said, "On behalf of Wakefield's and Lynnfield's rail-to-trail committees, I wish to thank Senator Tisei and Representatives Mark Falzone and Katherine Clark for their diligent work in having $500,000 in design and engineering funding included in the pending transportation bond bill. I understand that the bill has now been released from the legislature's Bonding and Capital Appropriations Committee with a favorable recommendation and is headed to the Ways and Means Committee on which Rep. Falzone serves.
The goal of RTT advocates in Wakefield and Lynnfield is to construct a four and one-half mile bicycle/pedestrian pathway from the junction in Wakefield across from the Galvin Middle School to the Lynnfield-Peabody line on the now abandoned railroad right-of-way. They intend to design, engineer and construct the project using a combination of state and federal grants bolstered by private donations but without the expenditure of any significant amount of Town funds by either Wake-field or Lynnfield."
Selectman Turco emphasized, "If $500,000 of design and engineering funding remains in the transportation bond bill that is finally enacted by the legislature and signed by the Governor, we will approach Governor Patrick with an immediate request that those funds be released to the Towns. At that time, we will develop a request for proposal for the detailed design of the project.
The work in support of the RTT project done over the past three years by our legislators including Sen. Tisei, Rep. Falzone and now Rep. Clark (as well as by former Rep. Mike Festa) has been an outstanding effort team effort on a bi-partisan basis. I look forward to the pathway becoming a reality that will benefit our communities for generations to come."
The planned bicycle and pedestrian pathway will follow the rail corridor that runs from the junction on Main Street in Wakefield near the Galvin School to the intersection of Water and Vernon streets. It will then continue into Lynnfield and extend another 2.5 miles to the Lynn-field/Peabody border.