Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Wakefield Rail to Trail Chair Dot Halpin provided an update on the ongoing effort to build a bike trail through Wakefield and Lynnfield.
The chairwoman of Wakefield’s Rail to Trail Committee wants residents to know that members are still working on making a local bike trail a reality, even if progress has been slow. In an email this week to Patch, Dot Halpin reported that for the first time, the Rail to Trail committee will not have a presence at Wakefield's annual Festival by the Lake, which takes place this Saturday, June 15 after being postponed by rain last weekend. “The reception of the public has always been so positive and supportive whenever we make our presentation. The number one question is always, ‘When is this going to be a reality? Believe me, we have not gone away,’" wrote Halpin. The phase that we are in right now is that our Town officials and the …
Friday, May 17, 2013
Your local editor made the trek down the old rail bed this week for some photos of what could eventually become a bike trail running through Lynnfield by way of Wakefield and Peabody.
Many local residents have been very interested in the progress of a proposed rail trail that would run through Lynnfield's Reedy Meadow, linking downtown Wakefield with trails running through Peabody and beyond. Back in December, we noted that the state has determined the project is eligible for federal funding, although the actual funds will be a separate step. The rail trail has also been part of the ongoing discussion about improving Lynnfield's athletic fields and recreational spaces. Actual construction of the trail in Lynnfield is still some time away, and one big part will be Reedy Meadow itself. Popular trails in Danvers and Peabody, to name just a few in the area, don't seem to have anywhere near the water issue to contend with …
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Proposed bike trail would run through Lynnfield and Wakefield. State DOT determines project is eligible for federal aid highway funding. Actual funding is a separate step.
The planned rail trail through Lynnfield and Wakefield is eligible for federal highway funds, state transportation officials determined earlier this month. In recent days, Wakefield Town Administrator Steve Maio and Lynnfield Town Administrator Bill Gustus have both received letters from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation confirming the project's eligibility for federal highway funds. That said, Gustus noted at Monday night's Lynnfield selectmen's meeting that securing the actual funds is a different step in the process. On Monday night, Gustus said that engineers should be able to begin the design process once the state DOT approves the scope of work and other details. Several years ago, he recalled that the state had provided…
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
The biggest question for any bike trail in Lynnfield - how to get through Reedy Meadow.
Town officials are slowly making progress on plans that could eventually see a bike trail established in Lynnfield that would connect to Peabody and Wakefield. At Monday night's selectmen's meeting, town administrator William Gustus reported that the town has received a $500,000 state grant to develop a bike trail design. He added that negotiations with engineers and with the town of Wakefield have also been underway on the eventual scope of such a trail. "The challenge of this trail is obviously, how do we make it through Reedy Meadow?" said Gustus, adding that portions of the current abandoned railbed are underwater for most, if not all of the year in that area. The town administrator noted that one option under consideration was to pull…
