Opinion: Vote Yes At Special Town Meeting and Support Rail Trail

A Letter to the Editor from Patrick Curley:

Two years ago, I stood before voters at the April 2017 Town Meeting and asked them to authorize the Selectmen to enter into a 99-year no-cost lease with the MBTA for the Lynnfield rail corridor for the purpose of Lynnfield’s Rail Trail project. Voters approved the Article.

On Thursday, Sept. 26th , I will stand before voters at the Special Town Meeting and ask them to appropriate $348,000 of existing town funds to complete the final design and engineering costs for the Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail Trail. By attending this Special Town Meeting, you can make the Rail Trail a REALITY in Lynnfield. If you do not attend, you risk delaying the Rail Trail for another generation or more.

Why a Special Town Meeting?

The 2017 Town Meeting started at 7 p.m., but the Rail Trail Article was placed at the end of a long list of Warrant Articles. As a result, debate did not start until after 9 p.m. and the vote took place around 11 p.m.

The likelihood of another 11 p.m. vote is simply unfair to families with young children, seniors, and those with early morning obligations. Accommodating these voters to ensure maximum attendance and participation required that we put this vote on for a single-issue Special Town Meeting. Voters will be able to debate, vote, and return home at a very reasonable hour, hopefully before 8:30 p.m.

Why won’t the state pay for Lynnfield’s final design costs?

Selectmen Phil Crawford and Richard Dalton said at the September 9th Selectmen’s meeting that there is a “chance” an earmark in the state’s 2018 Environmental Bond Bill could pay Lynnfield’s final design costs. Yet, the facts evidence that the “chance” is minimal at best:

1. The Chief of Staff of State Senator Brendan Crighton’s office confirmed that the “Bond Bill is authorized for 5 years, meaning that the Governor could choose to fund the “earmark” [$250,000 Lynnfield share] or some portion of it at any point in the 5 year period or he could choose to fund none of it.”

2. The District Director of Senator Lewis’ office confirmed that fewer than 10% of any earmarks in the Bond Bill will be funded during the course of the five-year Bond term from 2018 to 2023. She advised that it is the Towns – not the State or MassDOT – that pay for Rail Trail design costs.

3. Representative Brad Jones confirmed to Selectmen Crawford that “there is no guarantee that [the earmark] will be funded next year.”

4. Michael Trepanier, MassDOT Shared Use Path Program Manager, confirmed to FLRT that:

 The prudent fiscal path forward is for Lynnfield and Wakefield to fund Final Design, not wait for outside funding.
 MassDOT is funding the construction. It will not fund the Final Design.
 Waiting to advance to Final Design will cause the project to be pushed out further on the TIP Funding list, delaying the Trail construction date.

The odds are stacked heavily against Lynnfield getting its design funds from the state. Yet our Selectmen would have voters take a wait and see approach. Not only does that delay the Rail Trail construction for years, it imposes a huge financial cost on Lynnfield.

What do we lose by waiting?

In just nine months, on July 1, 2020, Lynnfield will lose a $100,000 grant that the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) awarded to the Friends of Lynnfield Rail Trail (FLRT) to defray Lynnfield’s Rail Trail costs. Our Selectmen would have voters sacrifice a guaranteed $100,000 for the slim “chance” the state will cover Lynnfield’s design costs.

In 2018, Lynnfield’s share of the estimated final design cost was just $300,000. Now it is $348,000. In another two years, it could be $400,000 or more. Delay means Lynnfield will have to pay a lot more later for the final design.

Finally, delay means another Lynnfield generation will lose out on a Rail Trail.

Can the Town afford the $348,000?

Lynnfield’s Finance Committee (FinCom) is comprised of conservative financial stewards who have helped lead our town to be among the most financially secure towns in the Commonwealth. They voted 8-2 in favor of this Warrant Article. An investment of just 3% ($348,000) releases the MassDOT to fund more than $10.3m to pay 100% of the Rail Trail construction costs.

Town Administrator Robert Dolan confirmed at the September 9th Selectmen’s meeting that the Town has more than $3 million in existing accounts that can be used to pay Lynnfield’s final design costs without any impact on the Town’s budget. These accounts are for one-time uses or expenses. This Warrant Article will NOT result in new taxes or borrowing.

Will this be the last vote?

If we can win this vote, there should be no need for another vote.

What do I need to remember?

The only sensible decision is to proceed now with Town funding to complete the final design and engineering for the Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail Trail project. We strongly urge you to Vote YES at the September 26th Special Town Meeting to make the Rail Trail a reality!

Patrick G. Curley on behalf of the Friends of Lynnfield Rail Trail (FLRT) leadership team
www.LynnfieldRailTrail.org, Locksley Road