Great news! The rail trail article passed during Medfield’s Town Meeting. This video of the portion of the meeting shows the discussion of the article and the vote. Although the Warrant committee recommended dismissal of the article, the Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 in favor. There were about 800 attendees and the vote was by show of hands, decisively enough in favor of the rail trail to not require a count. For those of you who attended and supported our cause, thank you!

The Friends of Medfield Rail Trail are now actively seeking funds through grants as well as individual and corporate donations. We have already applied for a DCR grant for up to $100,000 and will find out the outcome of that application in the fall. In the meantime, we are asking for donations from our neighbors so that we have enough funds for the selectmen to negotiate with the MBTA for the lease which is the first step before construction. Please give (see the Donation section on the right) and help us make this wonderful resource a reality.

Here’s the full article from the “Report On The Warrant For The Annual Town Meeting” for 2018

 

Article 25. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money and determine in what manner said sum shall be raised for the purpose of providing funds for construction of a multi-purpose recreational trail including but not limited to purchase of environmental liability insurance, and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into a lease and purchase environmental insurance for said purpose with the MBTA and/or Mass Department of Transportation (DOT) and to purchase environmental liability insurance, provided that the Board of Selectmen is satisfied that there are sufficient available funds from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or other sources to commence construction, or do or act anything in relation thereto. (Rail Trail Study Committee) A 1.3 mile multi-purpose recreational trail, beginning at Ice House Road and ending at the Dover Town Line has been proposed. This article seeks to give the Board of Selectmen authority to enter into a lease with the MBTA or Mass DOT for the abandoned rail line on which the trail would be constructed and some funding for either purchasing environmental liability insurance or assisting with construction funding.