Representatives Gentile and Sabadosa Join Senator Eldridge to Pass CPA Funding for Rail-Trail Acquisition in the FY2022 Budget

Boston, MA – On Friday, July 16, the Massachusetts Legislature’s budget was signed by Governor Baker, including a provision backed by State Representative Carmine Gentile (D- Sudbury), State Representative Lindsay Sabadosa (D-Northampton), and State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton) that clarifies the language of the Community Preservation Act (CPA) to allow CPA funds to be spent on acquiring rail trails. Created when abandoned rail lines are converted into public trails for use as pedestrian walkways and bicycle paths, rail trails provide a safe place for families to ride bikes or walk. This policy change will make it substantially easier for towns and cities in the Commonwealth to fund rail trail acquisition.

“These trails encourage people to exercise outdoors and offer substantial positive benefits to the communities in which they are located, including the revitalization of town centers, increasing business opportunities, decreasing traffic congestion and air pollution, and increasing tourism,” said Representative Gentile. “I am grateful to my colleagues for working with me to help our communities access this crucial source of funding.”

The CPA was passed in September 2000 as a tool to allow communities to get funding for open space protection, historic preservation, affordable housing and outdoor recreation. After finding out that there were several statutory impediments to the use of funding, the legislators worked with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Revenue, to draft language that would benefit local communities.

"For twenty years, the town of Southampton has been the missing link when it comes to rail trails in Western MA,” said Representative Sabadosa. “The trail ends at the Easthampton-Southampton line and picks up again in Westfield. Paying for the right-of-way and the construction of the trail has been difficult for a small community, but, with this legislation, they will be able to use CPA funds to match important grants that will make this greenway a reality.”

“I was proud to partner with Representatives Carmine Gentile and Lindsay Sabadosa to file S.148/H.286 An Act authorizing municipalities to expend certain funds for the acquisition of land to be used for rail trails, to allow CPA communities to use CPC funds to purchase land and easements to build rail trails, a major recreational priority for my constituents. I was very pleased to see this legislation make it in the final FY22 budget," said Senator Jamie Eldridge.

###