Opinion: Hidden and Long Term Costs A Reason To Vote No On Trail

A Letter to the Editor from Steve Sorrentino:

Lynnfield residents are asking why the Lynnfield Conservation Commission and the Lynnfield Tree Committee are not commenting on the proposed trail project. The answer is that the Commission has to wait until the trail design is completed and a letter of intent filed before they can analyze how it would affect the wetlands under state and local law. The trail design is currently only 25% completed. If the town votes to continue with the project on April 9th, Lynnfield taxpayers would have to pay up to $300,000 to finish the design. If the Trail project is not approved, all that taxpayer money would have been wasted.

When asking surrounding towns with rail trails to provide an idea of how much it cost them to maintain their trails, it was difficult for them to give a straight answer because certain expenses for services like police, fire, EMTs and DPW were not broken down specifically for the trail (as those costs are embedded in existing departmental allocations within town budgets). Most town respondents did note that annual maintenance costs can vary widely from year to year, especially if major repairs were needed for rail trail components like asphalt pavement, wooden rails, fencing, or boardwalks.

Further, they noted that trail maintenance involves a variety of maintenance actions, such as: grass mowing, tree limb removal, litter and debris removal, fencing repairs and replacement, pavement markings, drainage repairs, trailhead signage and street-crossing lighting maintenance.

Proponents of the Wakefield/Lynnfield trail have estimated that it would cost the Lynnfield taxpayers about $8,000 annually in maintenance costs. This number does NOT include the cost of future replacement of the 6/10 of a mile boardwalk through Reedy Meadow, replacement of the paved trail, or replacement of abutter fencing as all of those things deteriorate over time. We already have many infrastructure projects that need funding, as well as our need to contribute to our town employees’ retirement funds. Why should we take on this enormous project and fiscal liability?

Whether the theater at Market Street passes or if their back up plan for an office building is constructed, all the added traffic would at least bring in additional tax revenue to the town, whereas a trail would only be an added cost to Lynnfield taxpayers.

On another issue, area towns report that there are major problems with dogs on their trails. An article in the June 1, 2018 North Shore Sunday newspaper said that in Danvers, they have to pick up 50 or 60 bags of dog waste every week. A member of the Lynnfield Marsh Survey Team who lives near the Independence Greenway trail in West Peabody reports that dog waste on that trail is also big problem, but even more concerning is that unleashed dogs are being allowed to run into the conservation wetlands, thus displacing many species of birds and other wildlife. The same thing could happen in Reedy Meadow where endangered birds nest along the shoreline.

In addition, there are many homeowners along the rail line who have dogs which bark at the slightest sound. When one starts barking, there is a symphony of other dogs joining in. Can you imagine that going on from dawn to dark and disturbing entire neighborhoods?

With the boardwalk’s high visibility from the highway and the ease of access into town, Reedy Meadow would no longer be a haven for wildlife but an overcrowded attraction. It would also cause even more traffic jams, nosier neighborhoods and fewer parking spaces for Lynnfield residents. Why not enjoy the Meadow in its natural state rather than ruining it with a massive man-made structure? We also have loads of athletic programs in which our children can participate, parks to play in, and many conservation lands to enjoy so everyone can stay healthy and happy.

If you want to see where the rail line is located, you can go to Google.com/maps and type in Lynnfield. Follow the rail line from the highway straight through Reedy Meadow and on to where it ends at Nichols Lane in Peabody. You will also see all the homes that would be impacted by the trail, as well as the busy streets - including Summer Street and Pillings Pond Road - which would be intersected by this bike path. Because there would be no parking at the Peabody end, the closest parking would be at Jordan Park where parking is often overflowing onto Wildewood Drive. Can you imagine going to use the fields there and the spaces are already taken by trail users? The same
situation may occur if residents want to park at the Town Hall, Reedy Meadow Golf Course and the Middle and High Schools.

Please help us preserve the quality of life for Lynnfield residents as well as for our precious conservation lands, and join us in voting NO at the April 9 election at the High School from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Steve Sorrentino, Meservey Lane