I find myself outraged, disillusioned and perplexed over the recent CSX expansion and headquarter relocation from Boston to East Worcester. I wanted to ask if anyone else shared my thoughts and opinions concerning the severe impact this situation is having on the neighborhoods of East Worcester – specifically along the routes of 9 through Lake Avenue, Belmont and Shrewsbury Streets – 122 Grafton Street would appear to be receiving the worst effects as these enormous freight vehicles pour out of the MA Pike exit 11 and continue at inappropriate and unregulated excessive speeds north along Grafton Street through Rice Square to the rotary where Hamilton and Grafton Streets merge and onward to their truck yard destination – as well as the extra traffic this has caused to the existing exceeded volume capacities of Interstates 290, 20 and 495. This central transport train rail and truck yard expansion was supposedly being designed and implemented to lessen the amount of freight traffic on state and local roadways when from observations, has only served to significantly increase roadway freight transport as well as shifted the travel routes of these freight vehicles to arteries that are not designed to accept such vehicle modes or the excessive volumes of traffic being produced – not to mention the significant amount of both air and noise pollution this situation has created for the respective communities of east Worcester. There were a number of residents in the projected communities who directed these issues along with other concerns towards relevant local government officials assigned to oversee the expansion and subsequent headquarters relocation from Boston to Worcester over two years ago when public announcements began in local media and these respective politicians who addressed these concerns with reassuring statements, which are documented in local media forums - to the effect that (the CSX expansion would not, in any manner, disrupt the east Worcester neighborhoods or negatively impact the quality of life for its residents) however, these negative environmental impacts concerning road safety, air and noise pollution are exactly what the east Worcester neighborhoods are experiencing while the politicians who rallied and advocated for this project have since been promoted to other capacities enabling the responsible individuals to ignore the problems this inadequately planned and incompletely detailed venture has brought upon east Worcester residents. The lack of insight displayed by state and local government or if these probable impacts were speculated and carelessly implemented without regard for the environment or the community, either scenario should raise public concern. Rather than logically following through with monitoring the effects of this “done deal” and the harsh impacts imposed on respective residents top city council continue to glorify the imaginary convenience the CSX project has brought to Worcester as it concerns freight and public transport as well as the financial benefits allegedly reserved for funding community renewal projects while the affected neighborhoods such as Union, Grafton, Vernon and Belmont Hills remain in substandard conditions, which lack public forestry and basic curbside amenities. These commodities have been and continue to be implemented in the western, northwest and northeast neighborhoods of Tatnuk, Salisbury, Greendale and Burncoat to the extent where federally funded trees are being planted on private property while east Worcester areas have taken on the aesthetics that resemble harsh urban ghettos. Politicians at Federal, State and local levels who should be seeking and implementing ideas meant to better the quality of life for respective residents as well as ensuring the positive welfare of the community including the perseverance of the surrounding environment are operating in a manner that demonstrates the exact opposite. Prominent examples of this statement would be the Federal Governments attitude regarding the BP gulf oil incident concerning the blatant apathy displayed towards the many times more hazardous methods BP continues to employ as the company unscrupulously addresses the situation with seemingly thoughtless and ruthless regard for the environment as well as the devastating impacts on living organisms both animal and human. State and local government examples would include the concept of utilizing Worcester as the “central transport hub” of Massachusetts, which as far as I’m concerned translates either “pollution central” or “central cesspool” of Massachusetts. The consequences being offered by this atrocity our local and state politicians have forced upon Worcester residents far outweigh the imaginary conveniences or generated revenue “intended for city improvements” and I’m left rather amazed over the lack of insight exercised by Worcester residents in not recognizing the “Trojan Horse” in which CSX clearly represented for the communities of Worcester. I am convinced that the objectives of government intention are fundamentally self serving as it concerns individual position advancement and resulting revenue earned for respective politicians as well as these benefits for the major corporations that influence government where little if any motivation is geared to the quality of life for the population or ensuring the well being and perseverance of the environment. With this opinion taken in consideration, we as a community should be suspect to ideas proposed by governmental legislature on all levels ensuring to always thoroughly probe and question any and all ideas entertained by these respective governments.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 03:44:38 +0000
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