Lynnfield Residents Continue Rail Trail Debate At MassDOT Hearing

LYNNFIELD - Officially it was a 25 percent Design Public Hearing for the Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail Trail. But Tuesday night at the Middle School Auditorium, it seemed more like the continuation of Lynnfield residents ongoing debate on the merits of a project that was long ago embraced by their partners on the other side of Route 128.

Wakefield residents in attendance couldn't be faulted for looking at Lynnfield as that crazy neighbor. While Wakefield Town Administrator Stephen Maio said, "We're 100 percent behind this in Wakefield," the residents of Lynnfield in attendance were still arguing as they headed to their cars three hours later.

The debate is about the proposed recreational path that would use approximately a 4.4 mile rail corridor that begins at the Galvin Middle School on Main Street in Wakefield and extends to Pillings Pond Road near Jordan Park in Lynnfield. Approximately 1.9 miles of the proposed path is located in Wakefield with 2.5 miles in Lynnfield. MassDOT oversees the planning, design and construction of the project.

While Wakefield gave unanimous approval to its part of the rail trail at town meeting last May, Lynnfield voted 342-341 in support of its portion of the trail at the April 2017 town meeting. That support will be tested again April 9 when residents will vote on a non-binding referendum on the rail trail in the town election.

Shahpar Negah, MassDOT's project manager, said following the hearing that MassDOT doesn't care about the outcome of that vote, unless it causes the Lynnfield Select Board to rethink the rail trail. Unless told otherwise, MassDOT will take comments from Tuesday night's hearing and continue on to the next phase, which is the submission of 75 percent final design plans. If all goes according to plan, construction would start in the spring of 2022.

The night started with State Senator Jason Lewis speaking in support of the rail trail and using the Tri-Community Greenway in Woburn, Winchester, and Stoneham as an example of all the good things that await Lynnfield and Wakefield.

"It's an incredible resource for the communities where they're located," said Lewis. "The same opportunity is before the communities of Lynnfield and Wakefield."

Then it was the residents' turn, and it quickly became a Lynnfield political debate focused on April 9. MassDOT officials, along with the Wakefield residents in attendance, were caught in the middle.

It started with Patricia Campbell, a well-known voice in Lynnfield, and it didn't take long before the 2-minute time limit was exceeded. Campbell is opposed to the rail trail because of potential environmental damage to Reedy Meadow and what she called a waste of taxpayer funds. But as the night went on, most supported the rail trail and those that didn't presented opinions that were quickly corrected by supporters of the project. There were numerous concerns about Reedy Meadow and the elevated boardwalk but MassDOT officials were quick to point out they shared the same concerns and would work to protect the area.

As for the concerns about money, eighty percent of the $10.2 million cost comes from federal funds, the remainder from MassDOT and the State Transportation Improvement Program. The town would be expected to handle maintenance costs, a figure that's estimated to be $8,000 a year. Nervous abutters expressed concerns as well with many questions about screens and fencing to shield homes from the path. MassDOT assured residents their concerns would be heard and there would be screening options for them to consider.

With less than three weeks to go before the town election, attention shifts to the rail trail ballot question. Until then there's plenty of information available for any residents still trying to make up their minds. There's the Friends of the Lynnfield Rail Trail website, as well as information from the Recreational Path Committee on the town's website. And if you prefer a face-to-face meeting, the Recreational Path Committee's next meeting is March 26 at 7 p.m. in Lynnfield Town Hall.