Town officials and design consultants presented comprehensive plans for improving the Marblehead Rail Trail at a public listening session Dec. 9, building on recently completed enhancements while addressing community concerns about preservation and accessibility.
The town has already completed several improvements, including upgrades to crossings at Smith Street and West Shore Drive. A key “early construction project” between Rockaway Clifton avenues is currently out to bid, with work scheduled to begin in early 2025 and finish by June.
The project, coordinated between the town’s Department of Public Works and Community Development Planning Department, has secured significant funding from multiple sources. This includes $160,000 in Federal Community Project Funding received in 2022 as part of the Border to Boston Trail initiative, along with two MassTrails grants: $100,000 in June 2022 for the Lead Mills to West Shore Drive segment, and $60,000 in June 2024 for improvements between Pleasant Street and Smith Street.
Kathleen Ogden Fasser, senior principal landscape architect at Toole Design, which was contracted in September to advance the design and public engagement process, outlined plans to create an 11-foot-wide trail with stabilized aggregate surfacing and improved drainage throughout the 4.5-mile corridor.
The historical significance of the former railroad corridor emerged as a concern. Steve Butterworth, a local railroad enthusiast, made an impassioned plea for preservation.
“Interestingly, the granite curbing shows two curves. One was the edge right at the edge of the track and the other was the track, and both are still there,” he said. “I urge you to preserve as much of that old granite curbing as you can.”
Amy McHugh, DPW superintendent, emphasized the added cost of having amenities like trash collection
“It’s lovely to have a walkway,” she said, adding that maintenance costs for proposed amenities must be carefully considered. “Every small piece we have that is convenient for you is a cost for the town.”
Rick Smyers cautioned against prioritizing rusticity over accessibility.
“One person’s rustic might be another person’s scary,” he said. “If it’s too overgrown, too dark, that might discourage particularly younger people from using the trail.”
The growing popularity of electric bikes emerged as a contemporary challenge.
Elaine Leahy, executive director of Sustainable Marblehead, emphasized the trail’s environmental importance.
“As Sustainable Marblehead is working on trying to help the town get to net zero, the Rail Trail is a huge component,” she said, advocating for better connections to shopping districts to reduce car usage.
Logan Casey, the town’s sustainability coordinator, outlined ongoing efforts to secure additional funding through various sources, including annual MassTrails grants and the Regional Transportation Improvement Plan’s $6.2 billion five-year program.
Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer addressed questions about using proceeds from potential property sales for trail improvements.
“As a matter of policy and good practice, any funds raised by the selling of capital would be available for reinvestment in capital, rather than into the operating budget,” he explained.
The project team expects to complete construction documents for broader improvements by the end of 2025, though actual construction timing will depend on securing additional funding. The comprehensive design approach includes considerations for native plantings, drainage improvements, and amenities such as benches and bike repair stations.
Bob French, another resident, suggested educational elements: “Are there considerations for signage to point out local flora and fauna highlights? Similar scenarios where subtle appropriate ways to say ‘Keep your eyes open for painted turtles here’?”
Residents can submit additional comments or questions about the project to planning@marblehead.org. The town maintains a project webpage – bit.ly/4grWzww – with regular updates on both the early construction project and broader trail improvement efforts.
