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Lynnfield Rail Trail

Incredible aerial video of Reedy Meadow

April 17, 2025 Update:

"Rail Trail Heads to Town Meeting Fully Funded"

The Town of Lynnfield is excited to announce the Boston Area Metropolitan Planning Office (MPO) has fully funded construction for the Lynnfield Rail Trail (Phase 1) - from Ford Avenue, Lynnfield to Nichols Lane, Peabody for $6,062,695. This project was previously programmed in FY 2029 State Highway Program, with phasing of the project enabling acceleration of Phase 1 for FY 2026 (calendar year starting 10/2025). These MPO funds are strictly dedicated for use in State Priority Bicycle Network and Pedestrian connection projects. As a result of some very accelerated work by the Lynnfield Rail Trail Design Team led by lead engineer Stantec, the project now has a MassDOT programmed bid date of March 2026.

The three Rail Trail articles on the warrant for Town Meeting, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 7PM at the Lynnfield Middle School, have unanimously been endorsed by the Select Board, Finance Committee and Planning Board. The Town will ask Lynnfield residents to vote on these warrant articles to advance Phase 1 of the Rail Trail so that the State can fund construction on the earliest possible date. These articles are decided by simple majority vote at this town meeting and are necessary technical steps applicable to all projects to comply with State and Federal funding requirements.

The project will not be seeking additional funds at Town Meeting.

The three articles to be voted on will:

• Approve temporary construction easements at 127 Summer Street (186 sf) and 130 Summer Street (548 sf) for landscape screening and sidewalk improvements.

• Accept Ford Avenue Extension as a Public Way, similar to the balance of said street.

• Approve the dedication of an unused portion of Town of Lynnfield property at the Lynnfield Middle School, behind and below the track, for public access to the Rail Trail.

“We are very excited and proud to bring these final votes to Town Meeting and more importantly for securing over a six-million-dollar investment in Lynnfield infrastructure, in an incredibly competitive environment, that will be funded in full by the State.” said Town Administrator Robert Dolan. “It’s an outstanding opportunity for the Town of Lynnfield and has been a long time coming for supporters of the trail that have advocated for nearly a decade to achieve this milestone.”

https://www.lynnfieldma.gov/173/Rail-Trail