Key Values Of The Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail Trail Project

A Letter to the Editor from Vince Inglese:

During the March 19th Mass DOT hearing about the Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail Trail supporters of all ages and professions stood up and provided valuable insight into why they are in favor of the project. Here is a summary of some of the key points:

1. Life - One day, this rail trail may very well save a citizen’s life by providing a safer place to walk and bike, especially for our youth and elderly. Recall that as recently as January 2018, a Lynnfield pedestrian was hit and killed by an automobile on one of our roads.

2. Family - We all want what is best for our families and our community. In times like this with a new town initiative, there is often uncertainty in determining the right course of action and especially how it will affect our loved ones.

Know that there are over 100 Rail Trails/ Recreational Paths and Greenways in Massachusetts. This includes the top 10 most fiscally rated towns, others with the most pristine open space and conservation areas, and communities with the most historically significant properties.

They know these public recreational facilities are good for overall property values, beneficial to their family’s well-being and their community, and provide a safer place to walk and bike.

Know that our Selectman appointed Recreational Path Committee (RPC), composed of a talented group of professionals with diverse backgrounds, has carefully researched the key facts of the Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail Trail project for the past two years. They have collaborated with our town departments - Town Counsel, Police, Fire, DPW, and Engineering - to create their report. RPC unanimously voted to recommend the town of Lynnfield proceed and complete the Final Design phase.

3. Community - Making a contribution for the greater good of our community. We know the community cannot satisfy everyone because we are diverse and our needs are diverse. This Rail Trail project exemplifies civic responsibility and civic betterment. It is in the very best interests of our community.

4. Environment - Contamination of rural rail lines like the one in Lynnfield is rare. Over 70 Massachusetts towns have converted their railbeds to rail trails. Of that group only 4 found substantial hazardous materials during construction. Among them, 3 incurred no cost for clean-up as those costs were covered by MA DOT/EPA grants. Only Newburyport is still in process of resolving its issues. Federal and State regulations and well-established best practices for construction will assure us that any possible impact is mitigated. Today, any
contamination that may exist is not being controlled and is exposed to erosion, potentially polluting Reedy Meadow, abutting properties, and our air. Determining what potential risk exists and controlling these via established best practices is the far better approach for Lynnfield. To further help our citizens with some unanswered questions on the natural habitat of Reedy Meadow, our proceeding to the Final Design stage will help to get these answers. The future rail trail will enable us to enjoy nature and teach our children about it, while minimizing impact through a sound and established process.

Do the right thing. Your vote can help make this valuable recreational path a reality. We will all be the better for it! A YES vote on the ballot enables us to continue progress on the best value-added opportunity in our town’s recent history:

 $10 million in construction funding has been allocated by Federal and State sources which include important screening and fencing for our abutters. This money can only be used to construct a rail trail and cannot be used to fund any other Town projects.

 Enhance property values - This Rail Trail will foster desirability for our town and in turn enhance our property values - especially for those closest to the rail trail as the Selectmen-appointed Recreational Path Committee (RPC) report notes.

 Safety - Rail trails like this one do not increase crime as our Chief of Police Breen notes in the RPC report as well as has been reported by surrounding communities with trails and supported by
numerous studies across the country.

 The total community is thoughtfully considered in this project - all ages, abilities, and incomes as it is a fiscally prudent project- virtually no cost to build and very low cost to maintain, especially as compared to other town owned recreational facilities and has accessible off-street parking that is far in excess of other area towns as noted in the RPC report.

Use it or Lose It: If we fail to move forward now, we stand the real possibility of losing the $10 million in funding. In time, as more new residents move into our town, they will demand a recreational path. By then the funding will have gone to another town and the far greater cost to construct the demanded rail trail will come out of our town budget -and our pockets. Keep in mind that these increasingly popular rail trails are voted as the #1 recreational amenity in other Massachusetts towns and across the country!

The True Cost of Delay: Consider the Town of Danvers rail trail: Their early votes failed and years later, when the YES vote was secured, Danvers did not want to wait many more years for State and Federal funding, they built a lower cost rail trail – that did not include abutter screening and other desirable features.

Think wisely Lynnfield; vote YES while this critical and valuable funding is still available. A No vote will hurt us all, result in higher town costs later and, worse, possibly contribute to another pedestrian death.

Vote Yes on the Rail Trail ballot question April 9th.

Respectfully,

Vince Inglese