CSXT Worcester, Mass., intermodal site on track

Though the local permitting process for the project seemingly crawls along, officials at CSX Transportation are hopeful that their $100-million plan to expand the company's freight yard behind Union Station will be completed by 2012, the Telegram reports.

Lisa A. Mancini, CSXT ‘s
senior vice president, told those attending the 25th annual meeting of The
Research Bureau at the DCU Center that the company’s effort to move its main
freight operations out of Boston’s Allston neighborhood to the firm’s rail yard
between Shrewsbury and Franklin streets is on target to become operational in
two years.

The project, which is under
review by local and state authorities, is part of a public-private partnership
between the state and CSXT to shuffle the company’s freight operations in
Massachusetts, so the rail line between the city and Boston can be freed up for
more commuter trains. Eventually, it’s hoped that the MBTA will be able to
provide between 20 and 25 commuter trips daily between the two communities.

Mancini, who has
represented CSXT in the long and sometimes contentious negotiations with city
and state officials over the project, also said that the company is still
interested in negotiating settlements with the owners of properties needed to
expand the current freight yard.

CSX initiated eminent
domain proceedings to acquire some of the parcels after failing to cut deals
with many of the property owners.

The freight yard now
measures 28 acres and needs to be expanded to 52 to make the project feasible.

The company has reportedly
negotiated purchase and sales agreements for just two properties and may have a
possible deal with a third.