(The following article by Jennifer Lin was posted on the Philadelphia Inquirer website on December 21.)
PHILADELPHIA — CSX officials came to City Council yesterday with a promise for angry Center City residents who don’t like trains’ blocking access to the new Schuylkill River Park.
They pledged to “soften the effect” of rail cars that haul garbage and sometimes sit for hours next to the park.
But the executives offered no specifics on just what that meant and skirted the more pressing issue of access to the new riverside park – a matter now in federal court.
At one point, Councilman Darrell L. Clarke asked with exasperation: “What’s the point of this discussion?”
For more than a year, CSX has been locked in a legal battle with the city over pedestrian access to Schuylkill River Park. CSX has gone to federal court to force the city to build an overpass over its tracks at Locust Street. Residents and the city would rather see a cheaper alternative, such as a rolling gate.
“We’re still in negotiations with the city to come to an acceptable solution,” said William Goetz, a vice president in government affairs for CSX.
While wrestling the city in federal court, CSX also has been in a tug-of-war with City Council.
“All of us understand the conversation is all about access,” said Councilman Michael A. Nutter, chair of Council’s Transportation Committee.
The rail giant had ignored earlier subpoenas from the committee. But yesterday, the company allowed its Philadelphia superintendent, Larry Koster, to join Goetz in fielding questions.
Koster and Goetz explained that trains are “parked” by Schuylkill River Park for one of two reasons: Either crews are changing, or the railroad is adding or removing cars from trains.
Goetz said the company is exploring whether it could change crews at another location.
“We’re looking at locations in and out of the city and in and out of the state,” Goetz said.
Any changes, he added, would need the approval of unions that represent engineers and conductors.
Goetz dismissed questions about whether CSX could simply stop running trains on the rail line. “We can’t do that,” he said. “We need this capacity.”
Goetz said CSX was looking at ways it could make its slow-moving waste trains less offensive to neighbors, but he was vague on details. “We’re exploring things,” he said after the hearing.
Although CSX has pledged to lessen the impact of garbage rail cars, its executives said nothing about the larger concern about whether rail cars with hazardous materials are being parked in crowded neighborhoods.
A community group – Free Schuylkill River Park – has documented with video clips and photographs the hazmat tankers parked in Center City.
Asked about what was shown in the clips and photos, Goetz said, “I don’t know if they are or not.”
He said the trash cars draw more attention. “Municipal waste trains seem to be particularly noticed by the community,” he said.