LYNNFIELD — The rail trail project is in what Select Board member Rob Dolan called the “critical final pieces” for the bidding process.
The Select Board recently passed a vote for the Acquisition of Temporary Easements by eminent domain for the Rail Trail at 127 and 130 Summer Street, which now allows them to move forward with the bid process.
In terms of timing, Director of Public Works and Lynnfield Center Water District John Scenna said that the bid process would take around three months and could begin as early as the end of July.
“From that point forward, it’s estimated to be around an 18 to 24 month construction cycle, but right now those are all assumptions made by our engineering team,” he explained. “Once we have a contractor, we’ll know the schedule, the process – all of that will become clearer.”
According to a statement from the Town Administrator’s Office on Rail Trail Progress, a construction Notice to Proceed is anticipated for this November. Phase 1 is then expected to be completed by July 2028.
Scenna reiterated that at Town Meeting, the Select Board was given the authority to execute the temporary easements last spring. But with that, numerous issues and concerns were addressed, specifically regarding the Bethlehem Preschool building at St.Paul’s Episcopal Church, which is located on Summer Street.
Senior Warden Kwame Ofori-Asante noted that the church has been going “back and forth” on whether all of the school guidelines will be met. “We are fully in support of the Rail Trail, but we do have a school that has specific guidelines from the state,” he said. “Our concern is whether all of the guidelines for the school will be met.”
Dolan reassured that the project would not impact the school building itself and that it is a “mutual priority” for the board to protect the children. He also admitted that the lot itself has posed challenges, considering the church does not own it, but that the 99-year lease would “guarantee” that the school has the parking lot.
“In my opinion, it is in the town’s interest that the church has exclusive use of that parking lot and that it’s formalized,” he said.
He added, “There would be no risk whatsoever. We want to put a fence up, and we want to protect that area of the school and the church. That’s what everyone at this table wants to do.”
