Milton committee begins debate over trail lights

A Milton ad hoc committee is divided on a plan for the new Rails to Trails extension that would light sections of the trail.

At its Dec. 8 meeting, the committee unanimously voted to recommend to town council the installation of three lights along the trail section from Federal Street to the pedestrian bridge, with two lights at the bridge. But the committee tabled plans to put lights at the split leading toward Wagamon’s West Shores and on the section from the split to Lavinia Street, pending further discussion at its Tuesday, Dec. 15 meeting.

From Federal Street to the bridge, the committee agreed to use GranVille lights, an acorn-shaped light at the top of a pole, similar to those used on Rehoboth Avenue in Rehoboth Beach or at Milford’s Centennial Park. The two lights at the bridge would be shoebox-style lights that would hang over the bridge. The lights and the conduits for this section would be provided by Delmarva Power.

However, the committee could not agree on a lighting plan for the other two sections of the trail, with disagreement over whether the hill at the split should be lit at all and whether the town should own those lights or should use Delmarva Power. One train of thought was that under Delmarva Power, the power company would be responsible for maintenance of the lights, while if the town used an outside contractor, maintenance would fall on the town.

The debate on whether to light the trail extension has been ongoing for years. Town officials have advocated for lights to increase safety for people using the trail at night. In opposition have been residents on West Shore Drive in Wagamon’s West Shores, who oppose the lighting on the grounds that it would encourage 24/7 use and negatively impact quality of life in the neighborhood.

The town had planned to pay for the $195,000 lighting project via 50/50 split with the state, with each side contributing $97,500. However, with vocal opposition and no longer able to get the variety of lights it wanted, town council formed an ad hoc committee Nov. 12, to be chaired by Councilman Sam Garde. The committee was directed to come up with recommendations by the beginning of January. 

The committee held its first meeting Nov. 30, starting from the position of whether to have lighting at all. When they agreed to move forward with lights, the committee then agreed that the trail should be lit in sections, with heavier lighting from Federal Street to the bridge, as that area does not have clusters of homes near it, with less-obtrusive lighting in the area near West Shore Drive.  

At the committee’s third meeting on Dec. 8, Garde suggested having four lights in the area of the trail split, with two on each side of the trail. But the committee was hesitant to go along with this, while Public Works Director Greg Wingo wanted to further investigate the use of bollard lights, which are low to the ground and do not give off a bright light. 

The committee then unanimously voted to table discussion of the other two trail sections until its next meeting.