When CSX expanded its operations in Worcester, it caused a great deal of disruption on the East Side, including construction and road redesigns. Neighborhoods were rightly concerned about the increase in freight traffic. I can remember sitting in packed neighborhood meetings at the Brown Square Civic Club, with former City Manager Mike O’Brien. District 2 residents had many concerns, including the hundreds of freight trains carrying fuel, chemicals and trash rolling in and out of the city.
Despite residents’ concerns, the project pushed forward with the promise that CSX would invest in District 2 neighborhoods.
The CSX Community Investment Fund was established in 2010 as a result of memorandum of agreement among the City of Worcester, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and CSX Corp.
The memorandum of agreement created a neighborhood improvement fund to “foster economic development in the Worcester Facility area of the City.” The fund was seeded with a $4 million contribution from CSX, as well as annual gate fee payments made by CSX equaling $1 for each loaded revenue container or trailer that enters or leaves the facility.
Of the original $4 million contribution, $3 million was allocated to “aquatics,” namely the spray park at East Park and to playground improvements at Holmes Field on Plantation Street. The remaining $1 million was to be divided equally between the Shrewsbury Street, Grafton Street and Canal District neighborhoods, which abutted the CSX expansion. While this original $1 million allocation would provide $333,333 per neighborhood, former City Manager O’Brien also agreed to forward-fund $1 million in gate fee contributions, thereby increasing each neighborhood’s allocation to $666,666. A neighborhood advisory committee was established in 2013 to review and recommend projects.
Between 2010 and 2015, this money was used for several neighborhood projects, from pedestrian crossing beacons on Shrewsbury Street to playground improvements at Grafton Street Elementary School. Fifty thousand dollars was allocated toward the EcoTarium west project, which purchased and preserved a 12-acre parcel of land on the west side of Harrington Way. North High received a new passenger van. And each of the three funds contributed $144,666, a third of their total, toward the Worcester Police Department’s ShotSpotter program, recommended by neighborhood improvement committees, and completed before District 2 City Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson was elected.
However, according to a recent report from City Manager Eric Batista, the CSX neighborhood improvement funds have sat unused and untouched for the past seven years. The report, requested by City Councilor-at-Large Khrystian King, first appeared on the May 6 City Council agenda. It was then held under privilege by Councilor Mero-Carlson for two weeks in a row. After two weeks of budget hearings, the report was finally discussed at the June 17 City Council meeting, six weeks later.
According to a report dated June 10, the three neighborhood funds have a combined total of $647,327 and there is over $1 million in the gate fee account. No projects have been recommended by Councilor Mero-Carlson over the past eight years. In fact, before the recent report, the last time the CSX neighborhood improvement funding was even discussed on the council floor was in August 2018.
Money intended for these District 2 neighborhoods has been left on the table for nearly a decade. Sidewalks and parks need repairs; neighborhood organizations like Friendly House, which runs youth sports, and food programs have yet to receive a penny. Last summer, following a string of terrible pedestrian accidents on Belmont and Shrewsbury streets, CSX neighborhood improvement funds could have been utilized to install rapid flashing crossing walk signals.
Councilor Mero-Carlson has failed to recognize this funding resource and use it to respond to the needs of District 2 neighborhoods.
Constituents deserve responsive government and proactive city councilors. When it comes to any municipal project, it’s funding that often extends timelines. The CSX neighborhood improvement funds offer an opportunity to fund projects in a timely manner. I am running for District 2 City Council, and I am committed to working with residents, small businesses and organizations, to identify and meet community needs.
The CSX neighborhood funds continue to sit in waiting in the Economic Development Committee, which is chaired by Councilor Mero-Carlson. How much more time will the City Council waste?
Robert A. Bilotta is a candidate for District 2 city councilor.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Opinion/Guest column: Put CSX funds to work for District 2 residents