(The following story by Nick Kotsopoulos appeared on the Worcester Telegram & Gazette website on March 19, 2010.)
WORCESTER, Mass. — Two more neighborhood groups have expressed concerns about CSX Corp.’s plan to expand its freight yard on Franklin Street.
The Shrewsbury Street Neighborhood Association last night made it clear it has a big problem with the planned closing of Putnam Lane, which is necessary so there can be additional track capacity to handle the freight and commuter rail traffic coming into the terminal.
With that closing, there would no longer be any roadway connection between Franklin and Shrewsbury streets, from Union Station to Piccadilly Plaza on Shrewsbury Street.
While the Shrewsbury Street group does not oppose the CSX plans, its president said it “will not tolerate” the closing of Putnam Lane because it is essential for public safety, commuter convenience and economic development.
“We’ve made it clear to CSX that this connection is essential to our neighborhood,” said Gary J. Vecchio, group president. “When they built Interstate 290, they cut off our neighborhood to much of the city. When they built the Worcester Center (Galleria mall), they cut us off again. We can’t be shut off again, and we will not be shut off again.”
Meanwhile, members of the Grafton Hill Neighborhood Association fear an increase in truck traffic and air pollution will result with the CSX expansion. With the CSX freight yard’s entrance being relocated to Grafton Street, Grafton Hill residents fear that truck traffic going west will use Grafton Street as a way to connect to the Massachusetts Turnpike or Route 20.
“When you have the kind of expansion they are talking about, it’s going to bring a lot more truck traffic, noise and pollution,” said Michael Troiano, honorary chairman of the Grafton Hill group. “That doesn’t seem like a good trade-off just to get some extra commuter rail trains here.”
About 400 trucks per day use the CSX freight yard; the expansion is expected to add another 80 to 100 truck trips per day.
CSX wants to double the size of its freight yard on Franklin Street from 23 acres to 51 acres and make Worcester its new rail freight hub for New England. The $100 million project is part of a private-public partnership between the state and CSX to reposition its freight operation in Massachusetts so the rail line between Worcester and Boston can be opened to more commuter trains, with a goal of adding 20 more commuter trains by 2012.
As an alternative to closing Putnam Lane, District 2 City Councilor Philip P. Palmieri last night broached the idea of having a bridge built that would connect Franklin Street to the back side of Shrewsbury Street, in the area of Albany Street, Nebraska Street or Fantasia Drive.
He said Putnam Lane, while an important connection, is a “horse-and-buggy” roadway because it is so narrow. He said a bridge would provide a much better connection between Franklin and Shrewsbury streets.
“CSX has to step up even more now to alleviate this exceptionally difficult issue,” Mr. Palmieri said. “We want to move forward positively on this, but we won’t be a rubber stamp, that’s for sure.”
Councilor-at-Large Joseph M. Petty said CSX has been a good partner on this project. He said the company has not attempted to hide anything and has shown a willingness to address neighborhood concerns.
“In the next couple of weeks, we should have a better idea of where things are going with this project in terms of traffic, noise, lighting and the Putnam Lane issue,” he said.