Officials Promise Economic Boost From CSX Yard
Matt Pilon
Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray at the groundbreaking for CSX Corp.'s Worcester expansion.
City and state officials this morning celebrated the groundbreaking of a $120-million expansion project at CSX Corp. rail yard on Franklin Street, which they pledged would create more than 450 jobs and spawn distribution facilities.
Gov. Deval Patrick and Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray said that making Worcester a major freight hub is not only good for the city, but would also result in a more robust and competitive freight and passenger system for the entire state.
"What's not to like about this project?" Patrick asked. "Every stop and terminal along the way is its own economic growth opportunity."
The expansion will more than double the size of the intermodal terminal between Shrewsbury and Franklin streets, bringing it to 51 acres. And through an agreement with the state reached in 2009, the project will allow for more commuter trains from Worcester to Boston by 2012 by giving the state control of dispatching and allowing for double-stack freight trains that can carry more cargo.
Murray called that public-private partnership a new model for rail and said that the head of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has assured him the trains would run on time. The MBTA has had to answer in recent months for long commuter delays on the Boston-Worcester line.
City Manager Michael V. O'Brien called the project a "game changer" for the city and said it would have positive effects for the real estate market in Worcester.
Rep. Vincent Pedone said in remarks to a crowd of approximately 100 people gathered in an area of the rail yard framed by 53-foot freight containers that the expansion represented a "new day" for the rail yard, which he said has not been consistently responsive to city residents' needs and demands.
"When this was announced, there were a lot of people who didn't like this project," Pedone said.
But Pedone said he credits Worcester residents for coming around on the idea.
"The community set aside its reservations and looked to the future," he said.
CSX acquired a number of properties along Franklin Street necessary to expand the facility. The largest property it purchased was the former Shaw's Supermarket on Grafton Street at a cost of $19.4 million, according to the registry of deeds.
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