Reference Library
Frequently Asked Questions | In the news | Committee agendas | Committee minutes | Local history | Documents and Publications | Web links
Frequently Asked Questions
- Rail Trail Benefits -- from the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (2007)
- Glossary of terms -- from the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (2002)
- Acronyms -- from the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (2002)
In the news
- Important step for rail trail -- Wakefield Daily Item, 01/27/2010
- $500,000 coming for rail to trail plan -- Wakefield Daily Item, 01/26/2010
- Patrick-Murray Administration Moves Forward -- Press Release, 01/25/2010
- Urban bike-sharing program could come to Boston -- Wakefield Daily Item, 08/13/2009
- Boston Tries to Shed Longtime Reputation as Cyclists’ Minefield -- The New York Times, 08/09/2009
- WHO TAUGHT YOU TO DRIVE? -- The Boston Globe, 06/26/2009
- Walk to School Day a Success! -- Wakefield Daily Item, 05/20/2009
- National Bike Month Infographic -- Wakefield Daily Item, 05/14/2009
- $80m in US funds for bike projects unspent in Mass. -- The Boston Globe, 04/14/2009
- Beacon Hill delegation advocates for bike trail -- Wakefield Daily Item, 12/30/2008
- Committed to the rail trail -- Wakefield Daily Item, 12/26/2008
- Major Milestones -- Editorial, 09/22/2008
- Rail trail stalls over MBTA lease -- Danvers Herald, 04/02/2008
- Take bike path news with grain of salt -- Wakefield Daily Item, 03/27/2008
- Good news for bike trail backers -- Wakefield Daily Item, 03/27/2008
- World-class bike cities? Why not Boston? -- The Boston Globe, 03/23/2008
- Rail-to-trail project clears first funding hurdle -- Wakefield Daily Item, 03/04/2008
- Rail-trail project clears first funding hurdle -- Press Release, 02/28/2008
- New hope for rail-to-trail -- Wakefield Observer, 12/05/2007
- Miles to go for rail-to-trail project -- Wakefield Observer, 10/24/2007
- State eyes extensive bike trail expansion -- Boston Globe, 10/08/2007
- Many accomplishments made by Rail-to-Trail group -- Wakefield Daily Item, 08/06/2007
- Rail to Trail group seeks $500,000 for engineering -- Wakefield Daily Item, 10/23/2007
- $500,000 in state bonds sought for rail trail -- Wakefield Daily Item, 06/01/2007
- Support the rail trail -- Wakefield Daily Item, 03/20/2007
- Rail to Trail study will proceed -- Wakefield Daily Item, 02/15/2007
- Student secures free bike rack -- Wakefield Daily Item, 10/27/2006
- Greenwood kids take part in International Walk to School Day -- Wakefield Daily Item, 10/18/2006
- Rail trail plans rolling along -- Wakefield Daily Item, 10/17/2006
- A Perfect Bike Path -- Wakefield Daily Item, 10/12/2006
- Rail project delayed but proceeding -- Wakefield Observer, 09/07/2006
- Tisei secures aid for rail trail -- Wakefield Daily Item, 07/31/2006
- Rail trail veto overridden -- Wakefield Daily Item, 07/20/2006
- Rail-trail project expected to be back on track -- Wakefield Observer, 07/20/2006
- Legislation Helps Rails-Trails -- Environmental Liability Insurance press release, 06/23/2006
- A hard climb on Hill for bicycle safety law -- Boston Globe, 04/23/2006
- Insurance quote could break rail trail logjam -- Wakefield Daily Item, 03/08/2006
- Bain gets bike path -- The Stoneham Independent, 12/07/2005
- State Reps secure funding for Green St. sidewalks, bike path study -- Lynnfield Villager, 08/26/2005
- Guided Bike Tour -- Press Release, 05/21/2005
- Residents hear about rail trail benefits -- Peabody & Lynnfield Weekly News, 05/05/2005
- Recreational Pathways: "Value Vested" -- Press Release, 03/10/2005
- The Realities of the Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail-to-Trail -- Press Release, 02/10/2005
- Pollution issue snags trail plans -- The Boston Globe, 01/13/2005
- Rail Trail Moves Forward -- Wakefield Observer, 12/23/2004
- Pollution worries prompt towns to seek legal aid -- Wakefield Daily Item, 12/15/2004
- Join town's Bike Path Committee -- Wakefield Daily Item, 09/26/2004
- Make the bike trail a reality -- Wakefield Daily Item, 09/17/2004
- Selectmen on board rail trail plan -- Wakefield Daily Item, 09/16/2004
- Town wants old rail line -- Wakefield Daily Item, 05/30/2003
Committee agendas
Wakefield Rail-to-Trail Committee agendas are maintained by the Recording Secretary.
| 2010 | 2009* | 2008* | 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check again soon! | September 10, 2009 |
January 17, 2008
March 13, 2008 June 5, 2008 November 13, 2008 |
January 11, 2007
February 15, 2007 March 8, 2007 April 12, 2007 May 2007 June 14, 2007 July 12, 2007 August 9, 2007 |
* Meetings in 2008 and 2009 were held sporadically due to our working with our legislators on our next phase, the funding for Design and Engineering of the project. As with all projects around the Commonwealth, and the United States, we are progressing slowly due to the current fiscal challenges. Please check back with us periodically or look for press releases as we continue our efforts.
Committee minutes
Wakefield Rail-to-Trail Committee minutes are maintained by the Recording Secretary.
| 2010 | 2009* | 2008* | 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check again soon! | None available. |
January 17, 2008
February 14, 2008 March 13, 2008 |
January 11, 2007
February 22, 2007 March 8, 2007 April 13, 2007 May 10, 2007 June 14, 2007 July 12, 2007 August 9, 2007 September 13, 2007 October 11, 2007 |
* Meetings in 2008 and 2009 were held sporadically due to our working with our legislators on our next phase, the funding for Design and Engineering of the project. As with all projects around the Commonwealth, and the United States, we are progressing slowly due to the current fiscal challenges. Please check back with us periodically or look for press releases as we continue our efforts.
Local history
- Progress Report -- annual progress report on the Reedy Meadow Rail to Trail Alliance, by Dot Halpin (2009, 1 pg.)
- Progress Report -- annual progress report on the Reedy Meadow Rail to Trail Alliance, by Dot Halpin (2007, 1 pg.)
- Newburyport Railroad -- view of larger rail line extending into Essex county. (2005)
- Committee update -- a brief update on local rail-to-trail progress, by Dot Halpin (2005, 1 pg.)
- Overhead view of the Wakefield area -- Town limits are in red and the proposed trail is in orange. (2004)
- North Suburban Regional Bicycle Transportation Plan -- Background of the North Suburban Regional Bicycle Transportation Plan (NSRBTP) by Emmett Halpin (2004, 1 pg.)
- Newburyport Branch -- Discussion thread on railroad.net (Sep 23, 2004)
- Committee pre-history -- a short history of Wakefield bicycle advocacy prior to the formation of the Wakefield Rail-to-Trail Committee, by Emmett Halpin (2004, 1 pg.)
- Trains at Wakefield Junction -- The NERAIL New England Railroad Photo Archive (1950s)
Documents and Publications
- Portland: Celebrating America's Most Livable City -- City figures discuss what it means to be America's Most Livable City. (Jan, 2008)
- You're Better off by Bike -- Transport for London YouTube video advocating for more bikes (May 12, 2007)
- Rail-Trail Feasibility Study report -- Fay, Spofford & Thorndike, Inc. (Sep 2007)
- Rail-Trail Feasibility Study map -- Fay, Spofford & Thorndike, Inc. (Sep 2007)
- Peabody Bikeway Environmental Notification Form -- Sample Environmental Notification Form as submitted by the Town of Peabody (2005, 4 pg.)
- Understanding Environmental Contaminants -- Lessons Learned and Guidance to Keep Your Rail-Trail Project on Track. Published by TRAILDART, a Service of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (2004, 43 pg.)
- MBTA Best Management Practices -- This document summarizes Best Management Practices ("BMPs") that should be considered before, during, and after former railroad lines are converted to recreation trails (2004, 11 pg.)
- Wakefield ROW petition -- We, the undersigned, feel that the livability of our town would be improved if the abandoned Rail Road Right-of-Way from the Junction at North Ave. to Reedy Meadow was developed as a linear park that would be used for pedestrian and non-motorized vehicles (2004, 1 pg.)
- Trails for the Twenty-first Century -- a more advanced publication that takes you through the steps for developing a multi-use trail (2001, 212 pg.)
- Secrets of Successful Rail-Trails -- The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's official tutorial (1993, 91 pg.)
Web links
- MassBike -- The Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition (MassBike) promotes a bicycle-friendly environment and encourages bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation.
- Meadow Walk project -- Meadow Walk at Lynnfield is an mixed-use retail and residential village to be built on a portion of the existing Colonial Golf Course property.
- Coastal Trails Coalition -- (CTC) is composed of citizens, organizations and communities of the Lower Merrimack Valley. Its mission is to advocate for a public system of interconnected bicycle and pedestrian trails linking the region’s unique coastal features with town centers, neighborhoods, and transportation hubs.
- Danvers Bipeds -- We are a citizens' advocacy group working to improve biking and walking conditions and promote safe ways to use these as viable means of transportation and recreation in the Danvers area.
- Topsfield Rail Trail Committee -- To transform the abandoned rail bed into a recreational asset for Topsfield residents of all ages for walking, jogging, biking, and horseback-riding, while respecting the privacy of our trail neighbors and the environment.
- Rails-to-Trails Conservancy -- The purpose of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is to build a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors to create healthy places for healthy people.
- Eastern Trail Alliance -- We are friends of the Eastern Trail, now being developed to run from Portsmouth, New Hampshire to South Portland, Maine. Our shared vision is to build this wonderful trail resource.
- East Coast Greenway Alliance -- Walkers, cyclists, and other trail advocates have joined forces around an audacious project, a 2,600 mile traffic-free path linking East Coast cities from Maine to Florida. Launched only 10 years ago, this vision for an urban alternative to the highly popular Appalachian Trail is quickly becoming a reality.
- Town of Wakefield -- William J. Lee Memorial Town Hall, One Lafayette Street, Wakefield, Massachusetts 01880
- Wakefield Center Neighborhood Association -- The Wakefield Center Neighborhood Association (WCNA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the beautification and improvement of Wakefield, Massachusetts center and adjoining open-space areas.
- Northeast Greenway Solutions -- NEGS partners with other non-profits, engineering companies, communities or grass-roots trails organizations, helping to bring cogent solutions to questions surrounding trail development.
- Friends of Bedford Depot Park -- The Official Web Site of Friends of Bedford Depot Park. Honoring and Preserving Our Local Railroad History in Bedford, Massachusetts, and Surrounding Communities.
- Friends of the Community Paths -- The Friends are a citizen's group supporting the creation of a safe, accessible, and useful network of pedestrian & bicycle paths through our Boston area communities.
- MassGIS -- Bicycle Trails Datalayers/GIS Database, September 2004. This dataset, formerly named "Rail Trails," was created by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (formerly DEM - Dept. of Environmental Management) for the purpose of regional planning and mapping.