By GAYLA CAWLEY
SWAMPSCOTT — Voters will head to the polls Thursday to decide the fate of a proposed rail trail, as residents have the final say on whether to allocate funds that would allow plans for the path to go forward.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at three locations — Precinct 1 and 2 will vote at Swampscott Senior Center, 200 Rear Essex St.; Precincts 3 and 4 will cast their ballots at First Church Congregational, 40 Monument Ave.; and Precincts 5 and 6 voters will head to Swampscott Middle School, 207 Forest Ave.
Voters will decide whether to overturn a 210-56 Town Meeting vote last month, where members approved allocating $850,000 for the design and engineering of the trail location with the National Grid corridor, as well as the legal fees and costs for acquisition of easement rights.
A group of residents opposed to the trail fought the vote and garnered enough signatures on a citizen’s petition to force a special election.
The two-plus mile, 10-foot wide trail would run from the Swampscott Train Station to the Marblehead line at Seaview Avenue, connecting with the Marblehead rail trail, which also links to trails in Salem.
Opponents, including many abutters to the proposed path, have been angry about the possibility of eminent domain and have said that the trail is a luxury that the town cannot afford. Privacy and safety concerns have also been cited.
Proponents have said the trail provides free exercise and a way for people to get out in nature. The School Committee recently released a statement saying that the trail would increase the quality of life and the broader sense of community for all of Swampscott.
Officials have said that $240,000 of the funds would be used to hire professionals for design and engineering costs. About $610,000 would be for acquisition of easement rights, where the town would work with the property owners (National Grid and/or other parties) to secure the rights. This may be done through eminent domain or by donation/gift of the land.
Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley.