The Governor’s announcement on the release of the $500,000 Transportation Bond Bill funding designated for the design and engineering phase of the Wakefield/Lynnfield Rail Trail allows the two towns to move forward with this next important phase of the project. The Wakefield Rail-to-Trail Committee and the Lynnfield Recreation Path Committee have been working together towards this goal for the past five years.
In that time, we have worked with officials in both towns as well as our state senators and representatives. Several years ago we received funding secured for us through the efforts of Senator Richard Tisei allowing us to start the process with the Feasibility Study. The environmental liability legislation that was passed by the Massachusetts House and Senate was another item on which we worked with several other towns.
The work on the Transportation Bond Bill funding for design and engineering has been on-going for several years. Representative Katherine Clark brought the two town committee chairs and Town Administrators Steve Maio and Bill Gustus, together in a meeting with the Director of Capital Finance and several staffers back in December of 2008. Some other committee members also attended including Al Turco, the Board of Selectmen liaison to our committee. At that meeting we were able to present our project details to the State House with the backing of Representatives Clark and Falzone and Senators Tisei and Jones, all of whom were in attendance and spoke of their support for the proposed rail trail. Representative Clark has been working since that time to keep our project visible with the Governor.
Being included in the Transportation Bond Bill was a positive, but not until the actual announcement of the funding release could we take the next step. With the release of the transportation bond money granted by the State for this specific project, the towns can move forward with the legal and financial processes required to bring the trail closer to completion. But we know there are many steps remaining before the trail will become a reality.
However, once established, the economic, health and environmental benefits to the towns will begin to manifest themselves. Trails, by their nature, become family recreation sites and that will bring new customers to the businesses along the route. It will be easier to reach the downtown area from other sections of the towns by foot, or by bicycle, skateboard or rollerblade. Students in both towns will be able to ride their bicycles or walk to several schools without being out on the roadways, making it a safer trip for them. Their parents will no longer need to drive them and idle their vehicles while dropping them off or picking them up, thereby saving fuel and cutting down on pollution. The path will be wheelchair accessible, as well. The trail will also have proximity to public transportation routes in Wakefield with the train station on North Ave. and several bus routes. The Reedy Meadow areas in each town will become more accessible for residents to enjoy and appreciate with the changing seasons.
As Chairwoman of the Wakefield Rail-to-Trail Committee, I would like to thank our Board of Selectmen, Town Administrator Maio and Town Planner Reavis with whom I have worked over the years for their time, support and encouragement. I would also like to thank Katherine Clark for her dedication to this project by keeping us on the Governor’s radar screen for this past year.
Dot Halpin
Chairwoman
Wakefield Rail-to-Trail Committee