Response to Ms. Clifton's questions on the rail trail

Let me respond to Barbara Clifton’s questions on March 6.

http://sudbury.wickedlocal.com/article/20140307/NEWS/140308228

1)   After all that time and talk your committee never brought a recommendation to the town about the rail trails.  Is this how you decide issues, not just study them?  The Board of Selectmen (the Board) appointed the Rail Trail Conversion Advisory Committee (RTCAC) “to examine the conversion of an existing unused rail line in Sudbury to a recreational path and alternative transportation corridor. The Selectmen are committed to developing an overall project and vision for this rail trail conversion.”   We (RTCAC) presented four recommendations to the Board in October of 2008, and an additional two in early 2009. These Action Recommendations are part of the Notebook the Board assigned us to write; you can find it on the town website.  The Board never delegated responsibility to implement this project to the RTCAC; rather, our charter was to study the issues.  The elected Board is empowered to decide what projects and priorities it will pursue.  Indeed, the Board stated that it would decide how to proceed with the rail trail in 2008, and then deferred that decision until 2009—but never decided.

2)   The town also voted overwhelmingly for the Bruce Freeman Rail trail at the ballot box on March 26, 2012. Why don’t you respect the town’s wishes?  The town voted overwhelmingly for “a recreational Rail Trail more or less on the old rail right of way in Sudbury known as the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (BFRT)”. No design is specified in the ballot question and advocating for a greenway is completely in accord with the voters’ decision.  I have supported a greenway for years and Town Staff recommended a greenway to the Board on July 30, 2013. If we offered voters the choice of a paved trail in five years or a greenway next year, which would they choose?  The voters I’ve spoken with have said, “Greenway!  Let’s just do it!” 

I assure you I respect the voters’ wishes--a necessary qualification for any candidate for elected office. That’s why I support building a greenway on the Bruce Freeman right of way.  I also stand by my record of public service and hope that the additional information I have provided here will clarify how I have discharged my responsibilities.

Pat (Patricia) Brown