The Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail Trail is a proposed and currently under construction rail trail in the Towns of Wakefield and Lynnfield, Massachusetts. It follows the right-of-way of the former Newburyport Railroad, now owned by the MBTA and proposed to be leased to the towns.[1][2] When completed, the trail will run approximately 1.9 miles (3.1 km) in Wakefield and 2.5 miles (4.0 km) in Lynnfield.[3] The southwestern terminus is near Wakefield Station, and passes the Galvin Middle School, under Interstate 95 (128) into Lynnfield over the Reedy Meadow wetland, passes the Lynnfield Middle School, the Reedy Meadows Golf Course, and Lynnfield High School to the northeastern terminus at Nichols Lane in Peabody.[1] It will connect to the Peabody Independence Greenway and the greater Border to Boston Trail.[4]
| Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail Trail | |
|---|---|
 Wakefield Centre station with paved rail trail after underground electric transmission line installation in Wakefield, Massachusetts | |
| Length | 0.91 miles (1.46 km), 4.4 miles (7.1 km) when complete |
| Began construction | 2020 |
| Completed | TBD |
| Use | Walking, bicycling, inline skating |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Season | Year-round |
| Surface | Paved |
| Right of way | Former Newburyport Railroad, currently owned by the MBTA |
| Maintained by | Wakefield and Lynnfield |
| Website | http://www.lynnfieldrailtrail.org/ |
The Town of Lynnfield's project is 2.8 miles (4.5 km) from Nichols Lane in Peabody, through Lynnfield, to Fosters Lane in Wakefield. In October 2024, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation approved the Town of Lynnfield's request to split construction, into two phases, so that Phase 1 can be accelerated.[2]
- Phase 1 will go from Ford Avenue by Lynnfield Middle School to Nichols Lane in Peabody.[5] 100% design of Phase 1 is expected by January 2025.[2]
- Phase 2 will go from Ford Avenue, through Reedy Meadow and into Wakefield.[6] It is under preliminary design. Phase 2 that would take advantage of expected revisions to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection wetlands regulations, to reduce the required length of the Reedy Meadow boardwalk, which would reduce construction costs.[2]
The remaining section in the Town of Wakefield would therefore be 1.6 miles (2.6 km). To date, Wakefield completed construction of approximately 0.91 miles (1.46 km) between Main Street and Salem Street in coordination with a National Grid Woburn to Wakefield underground electric transmission line installation within the MBTA ROW, which began in 2020.[7][8][9] The trail heads to access these sections are currently under construction.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b "About the Proposed Rail Trail". Friends of the Lynnfield Rail Trail. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ a b c d "Rail Trail". Town of Lynnfield, Massachusetts. 2024-10-16. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ "Lynnfield Rail Trail Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)". Friends of the Lynnfield Rail Trail. 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ "Wakefield- Lynnfield- Rail Trail Extension, from the Galvin Middle School To Lynnfield/Peabody T.L." Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on 2024-03-17. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ "Lynnfield- Wakefield- Rail Trail Construction, from Ford Avenue to Nichols Lane (Phase 1)". Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ "Lynnfield- Wakefield- Rail Trail Construction (Phase 2)". Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
- ^ a b "Trail Head Project". Town of Wakefield, MA. 2023-01-04. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ "Woburn to Wakefield Line Project". The Greater Boston and New Hampshire Solution. Archived from the original on 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ "Woburn to Wakefield Transmission Line Project Begins Construction". Epsilon Associates. Retrieved 2024-03-17.