Lynnfield-Wakefield Delegation Secures $500,000 For Rail Trail

A joint press release from the entire Lynnfield and Wakefield legislative delegation:

BOSTON – Members of Lynnfield’s and Wakefield’s legislative delegation have successfully secured a $500,000 funding earmark for the Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail Trail as part of a $2.4 billion environmental bond bill that was recently signed into law.

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading), Representatives Paul Brodeur (D-Melrose) and Donald Wong (R-Saugus), and Senators Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) and Jason M. Lewis (D-Winchester) noted the funding will be used to complete a feasibility study of the proposed rail trail, which will connect a 2.5-mile right of way along the former Newburyport Railroad line in Lynnfield to Wakefield’s 1.9-mile bike path.

“The Friends of the Lynnfield Rail Trail have been working for many years to build community support for this project,” said Representative Jones. “This feasibility study will bring them one step closer to realizing their goal of creating a multi-use rail trail that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities on a year-round basis.”

“The Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail Trail will provide opportunities for local residents to enjoy many outdoor activities, such as walking, bicycling and hiking,” said Representative Wong. “I’m pleased we were able to work together on behalf of Wakefield and Lynnfield to get this funding included in the final bond bill.”

“This is a tremendous project which preserves our history while providing multi-modal transportation options for our residents. I was pleased to see this funding included in the final bond bill and am grateful to my colleagues for the tremendous teamwork we demonstrated on behalf of our constituents,” Representative Brodeur said.

“A feasibility study is the next step needed to advance the project and identify the best way forward for the proposed multi-use rail trail. Demonstrated local support for the project helps to make a strong case for investing in this recreational asset to benefit the entire community,” stated Senator Crighton.

“I'm very pleased that this legislation includes major funding for the Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail Trail project,” said Senator Lewis. “Rail trail projects create new opportunities in our communities for recreation, healthy lifestyles, and local economic revitalization, and I'm proud that the legislators of Wakefield and Lynnfield worked together to secure this major funding.”

The environmental bond bill was signed into law by Governor Charlie Baker on August 9 as Chapter 209 of the Acts of 2018. The bill authorizes funding for a variety of local and statewide environmental initiatives, including wetlands protection, climate change, coastal resiliency efforts, dam improvements, and the preservation of state-owned forests, parks, campgrounds and reservations across the Commonwealth.

Because the funding is included as part of a bond authorization, there is no firm timeline for when Lynnfield and Wakefield will actually receive the money. It must first be approved for release by the Baker-Polito Administration and then worked under the state’s annual borrowing cap, which was recently set at $2.34 billion for Fiscal Year 2019.

Representative Jones, Representative Brodeur, Representative Wong, Senator Crighton and Senator Lewis have pledged to continue to work together on the towns’ behalf to help facilitate the timely release of the bond funding.