Another new problem!!!

If you are from the Boston area and south, you are most likely aware of the proposed Greenbush Commuter Rail to link more South Shore communities to Boston. The MBTA has won approval of this rail link after many years of opposition and legal action. Just recently brought in to play was the selected location for the rail yard which will have the diesel trains idling over night (they are not turned off) before operations begin the next day. This location is a large section of marshland on the North River, not far from the coast, that will be filled in above high tide marks with concrete in order to support this rail park. This wetland is habitat for many striped bass, baitfish, and other wildlife and is frewuented by anglers and boaters alike. Other sites which would not have this degree of environmental impact have been discarded due to cost and not due to feasability. Below, you will see the general area highlighted proposed for filling.

[img=http://www.striped-bass.com/Images/scit1.jpg]

This would be a real shame to loose this location when other very workable sites are available.

That really sucks. Aren't there federal regulations against filling in marshlands? What is more important ? I say the marshlands. Is there anyone to write to about this?

Actually this railyard is being built adjacent to the First Herring Brook which is @ 100 yds from where the old New Haven RR round house existed for a century and on an old existing railbed which was rendered unusable during the Portland Gale of 1898. There is some cause for concern to make sure adequate engineering is conducted to make sure all run-off is collected and treated. I believe that the area can safely support this activity. The area has been used for many decades to dry sea moss and the Rousseau's had many an old machine that the old man built that probably leaked more hydraulic fluid in a week than a train would leak in a year. Also, no one is mentioning the benefits of being able to take a commuter train and reducing the number of cars on the road. I love to flyfish in the North River and I grew up in Scituate in the fifties so I am very familiar with the area. As long as the provisions are engineered into the facility to capture any spiled petroleum products I can not oppose it.

I 'm afraid I don't share your confidence in the powers that be doing the right thing.
Besides I commute on Rt. 3 every morning. When I drive past the Cherry St exit I just about gag from the deisel fumes which originate at the P&B Bus terminal. I can just imagine what the fumes will be like from a hand full of trains. Ecchhh! I love the smell of 'deisel fumes' in the morning!

A side benifit from all those deisel oil droplets which are sure to find there way into the marsh might be mosquito control.

Hey Pete, I'm not doubting benefits of the commuter line so much as the placement of the rail. I had to deal with a little portion of the rt 3 commute and I know it will benefit the Sou th Shore. I might be wrong on the exact placement of the placement of the yard where these trains will overnight (the highlighted area was pretty large :P ) but it can't be good for that location.

The biggest problem with this kind of project is the NIMBY factor. Because of this mindset, everyone tries to push the railyard as far away from any residences as possible and further and further into the ecological buffer zone. You guys are probable right when you question the engineering but the area they are going to use is NOT marshland. It was filled a century ago and must be fortified with concrete due to the amount of peat in the substrate

Pete, I do see the engineering as being a likely project but if the location is not marsh (which was how it was presented to me) that is better news. "NIMBY" is prevailing more and more these days but in some cases it can be important...

Do you know any good web resources on this rail head??

Thanks,

John