City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

Recommend Hold except for the portion of the item relating to three zone changes. Recommend that portion be referred to the Planning Board.

Speakers:
1. Maurice O'Connell, Resident Vice-President VSX
2. Joseph Capone, Worcester resident
3. Eddie Escobar, no residence given
4. Ray Juston (Frank's Flower Shop), no residence given
5. George Kerxhalli, Worcester resident
6. Mike Tessa, Worcester resident
7. Dennis Molinari, Worcester resident
8. Tim burrows, Worcester resident
9. Leonard Ciuffredo, Worcester resident
10. Ray Moretti, Worcester resident
11. Frank Beshai, Worcester resident
12. Jeanice Sherman, Worcester resident
13. John Giangregorio, no residence given

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report comparing the current versus anticipated real estate tax revenues for the CSX properties and facilities.

Request City Manager communicate with Mass DOT and CSX to establish sound barriers along the tracks that wind through the Coburn Avenue and Lake Avenue residential corridors.

Request City Manager communicate with CSX to include provisions in the approvals for expansion of the Franklin/Grafton Street rail yard that favorably impact employment for city residents.

Request City Manager provide City Council with details of possible tax exempt issues with reference to the expansion of the Franklin/Grafton Street rail yard.

Request City Manager provide City Council with the locations of bridges and tracks within the City of Worcester that will be impacted by the CSX rail yard expansion proposal and the double stacking of containers onto freight cars.

Request City Manager evaluate any negative impacts that the CSX rail yard expansion might have to surrounding properties.

Request City Manager request CSX provide City Council with the square footage of the buildings they propose to construct as part of the Worcester rail yard expansion.

Request City Manager report to City Council the steps that need to be taken to realize additional commuter rail trips in and out of Worcester.

Request City Manager review CSX's traffic study and provide City Council with a report on its findings.

Request City Manager report to City Council concerning the scope of the existing CSX operations including the hours of operation, number of employees, number of vehicles entering and exiting the site and the routes these vehicles take entering and exiting the city comparing each of these components to those that will be realized in the proposed rail yard expansion.

Request City Manager report to City Council a summary of the peak freight periods for over-road and over-freight operations during a typical 24-hour period and seven-day period for both the current operation and that to be expected with the rail yard expansion proposal with specific data about traffic that is expected to access the maintenance facility at the terminus of Atlanta Street.

Request City Manager provide the City Council with the proposed CSX operational plan that will detail how they will direct truck traffic to and from the proposed expanded site to the central Massachusetts highway network, and that he also provide City Council with the necessary right-of-way signage program to effectuate these traffic directives for approval by City Council.

Request City Manager provide City Council with a definitive and binding site maintenance plan to include all site perimeter fencing, plantings, brush, drainage retention basins, snow storage, new Franklin Street overpass and other facilities and assets on the proposed rail yard expansion site.

Request City Manager arrange to have CSX demonstrate before the next joint meeting of the Standing Committees any and all documentation explaining how they will mitigate noise and light from the proposed rail yard expansion site.

Request City Manager provide City Council with detailed site plans for the proposed expanded CSX rail yard facility including placements of buildings, plantings both within and around the perimeter of the site and a determination whether these conform to City of Worcester codes and ordinances.

Request City Manager inform City Council of the actions that the Administration and the MBTA will take to address sound, traffic, parking and other impacts of the expected 25 additional round-trip daily commuter rail runs out of and returning to Worcester.

Request City Manager provide City Council with a comprehensive CSX report that presents all studies, analysis and cost estimates for alternatives to the requested closure of Putnam Lane and that this be presented at the next joint meeting of the Standing Committees.

Request City Manager provide City Council with a comprehensive CSX report that presents all studies, analysis and cost estimates for alternatives to the proposed maintenance and weigh station facility to be located on the site of the proposed rail yard expansion and at the terminus of Atlanta Street.

Request City Manager conduct discussions with CSX to secure commitments that all construction work will be completed by union labor and, when possible, with City of Worcester residents.

Request City Manager discuss with CSX any and all other options available to maintain Putnam Lane as a through street.

Request City Manager provide City Council with data from CSX revealing the current number of trips per day and week to and from Boston and the number anticipated when the proposed rail yard expansion plan is completed.

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing the effects of tax revenues from the CSX rail yard expansion proposal.

Request City Manager provide the City Council with any air quality controls that will be implemented as part of the CSX rail yard expansion project.

Request City Manager provide City Council with any and all options available for truck traffic to access I-290 into and from the proposed CSX rail yard expansion other than that in the proposed plan.