TransloadX is a logistics and transportation company involved in the transloading and distribution of a wide range of goods, including hazardous materials. Communities should be concerned about their activities due to potential environmental and safety risks associated with the transportation and handling of these materials, such as spills, accidents, and contamination. Additionally, increased traffic and noise pollution can affect the quality of life for residents living near transloading facilities. – FU Editor Jim
From: John Stefanini
Date: Monday, September 30, 2024 at 4:06 PM
To: Michael Cannon
Subject: Hollis Street railyard
Good afternoon, Michael.
As you know, the Mayor placed the operators of the railyard on the Council agenda on July 16 to vet sending a letter of support for the operator’s IRAP grant application. The Mayor gave no one notice of his meetings with the operators and has taken no steps to mitigate the significant impacts of this operation on our neighborhood.
The lumber transfer now occurring at the Hollis Street railyard will have three trains and dozens of trucks clogging our streets each day.
Attached are the letter the neighborhood association sent to the Mayor, the minutes of the July 16 Council meeting, and two court orders regarding the operators. Their meetings with the Mayor and appearance before the Council both seem to be flagrant violations of the Judge’s order on June 10.
Four questions for City:
- Transparency. With no notice from the Mayor and little information about the operation, the Hollis Street railyard resumed its disruptive trains and trucks after being vacant for nearly three decades. When is the City going to share information with us?
- Ethics. The Operators are operating in violation of a court decision and have been held in contempt of court, raising serious ethical issues about how this matter has been handled. Has anyone in the Administration done any investigation into this operation? See attached court decisions.
- Mitigation. What is being done to study and mitigate the impacts of this operation? See CTNA letter.
- City Support. Did the Mayor support the Operator’s application for an IRAP grant as they requested? See Council Minutes from July 16, 2024 meeting.
Two years ago, the Mayor and I met with another rail operator about doing a different transport operation on the Hollis Street site. We raised serious concerns and the operator — despite federal law giving them the ability to operate – decided not to proceed owing to community concerns. Good operators listen to community leaders when they raise real concerns. So why are these operators proceeding?
Lastly, CSX’s standard contract includes a 30-day eviction clause. So, the City should ask Conrail – for the many reasons stated above – to cease operations by Milonoski & DeWaele at the Hollis Street Railyard.
Thank you for your interest in this matter.
John
FILES:
Excerpt of minutes of Framingham council meeting of Tuesday, July 16, 2024 relative to Hollis Street railyard:
An informational meeting with Michael Milanoski of TransloadX regarding plans for the CSX site on Hollis Street. Final_TransloadX-Framingham- update_IRAP_FY25.pdf
Chair Ottaviani read the item. He welcomed Mr. Michael Milanoski of TransloadX.
Mr. Milanoski introduced himself and Mr. John DeWaele. He explained after meeting with the Mayor and Sarkis Sarkisian, Planning and Community Development Director, TransloadX was in their second week of operation in Framingham and working out of 480 Hollis Street. Mr. Milanoski explained TransloadX would receive approximately three rail cars per day. He said they would unload from the rail car and reloading to trucks, approximately 10 to 12 trucks leaving the site daily. 9:15PM Councilor Bryant stepped out of the room.
Mr. Milanoski explained some safety, privacy and lighting initiatives for the property. He spoke about grant money which would pay for those initiatives.
Chair Ottaviani asked if they were operating. Mr. Milanoski said yes, they were two weeks into the operation. Chair Ottaviani asked if there were any permits necessary. Mr. Milanoski said they were not building anything, just transloading. He said a scale would be installed at some point.
Mr. Milanoski stated business had been done in the location for a hundred years. He explained CXS was not doing the work and TransloadX wanted to be visible, upfront and accessible to the public.
Mr. Milanoski showed a photo of the site. He stated they were to receive a grant; they were waiting for the Mayor to write a letter saying the improvements were good for the neighbors. Chair Ottaviani did not believe there had been activity on the site in years. He called on Councilor Steiner.
Councilor Steiner had hoped with the lack of activity in the location, something more useful would have been made of the site. He expressed his concerns. Councilor Steiner felt they should have been able to push back.
Mr. Milanoski explained the operation was under Federal laws of operation. He again stated they were not building anything. Mr. Milanoski said they were trying to build a private/public partnership. He stated they would be willing to facilitate meetings for the rail trail groups.
Chair Ottaviani recognized Councilor White Harvey.
Councilor White Harvey expressed her concern being the District’s councilor.
Chair Ottaviani called on Councilor Cannon.
Councilor Cannon was confused what the ask was. Mr. Milanoski said there was no ask, they were just sharing information to make the public aware of the project. He said the Mayor was a separate component. Mr. Milanoski stated he had emailed the district councilor using the email address on the City’s website. He apologized if Councilor White Harvey did not receive the email. He offered to have any Councilor who wished tour the site.
Councilor Cannon was not sure what to do. Chair Ottaviani restated they were just there to give the Council information. He recognized Councilor Ward.
Councilor Ward shared his thoughts and hoped TransloadX would be good neighbors.
9:27PM Councilor Bryant returned.
Chair Ottaviani called on Councilor Mallach.
Councilor Mallach appreciated the information. She asked if extra trains would be added to the lines or if they would be adding three cars to existing trains. Mr. Malanoski stated cars would be added to existing trains which travel through Framingham. Chair Ottaviani stated the site was where cars used to come through. He called on Councilor Bryant.
Councilor Bryant asked which trains the extra cars would be added to. Mr. Malanoski explained where the cars came from. Councilor Bryant asked how the train would affect traffic in the area. Mr. DeWaele said there would only be three to five cars and would not tie up traffic.
Chair Ottaviani recognized Mr. Tusino, Chief Operating Officer.
Mr. Tusino explained the City was not a partner on the property. He stated Mr. Sarkisian may have gone out and made some suggestions, but there was no partnering with the Mayor’s office. Mr. Milanoski apologized and stated he did not mean to insinuate a partnership with the city.
9:29PM Councilor Cannon stepped out of the room. Chair Ottaviani asked Mr. Chick if he wanted to speak.
Mr. Ron Chick introduced himself. He spoke on the vision of rail trails. Mr. Chick spoke of a collaboration of a rail with trail. Mr. Malanoski said he was in favor of a rail with trail. He made it clear he did not speak for CXS, they owned the land. He hoped there would be a solution given the area was not a high-speed area. Mr. Chick spoke inaudibly off microphone.
Chair Ottaviani called on Councilor Mallach.
Councilor Mallach wanted to know how many people would be employed once the grant was received. Mr. Malanoski hoped to have about 6 employees, qualified forklift operators. He explained by bringing lumber in it should lower the cost of lumber and hopefully lower the cost of housing. Councilor Mallach asked if the company worked in other locations. Mr. Malanoski said no. Discussion continued.
9:36PM Councilor Cannon returned.
Chair Ottaviani recognized Councilor Alexander.
Councilor Alexander thanked the presenters. He asked why Framingham had been chosen over the rail yard in Southboro. Councilor Alexander wanted to know how many tractor trailers would go in and out of the property. Mr. Malanoski again stated 10 to 12 tractor trailers per day. He explained the location in Southboro was operated by
Transflow, which dealt with chemicals. Councilor Alexander asked about extending the privacy screening further to the south. Mr. Malanoski stated they had walked the property and concluded the south side had vegetation naturally blocking the site where the North side did not. He said if something more needed to be looked at in the future, there were multiple grants available.
Chair Ottaviani recognized Ms. Cathy McCarthy via Zoom.
Ms. McCarthy felt the business would impact the traffic and noise in Framingham. She expressed concern for rails being used which had previously been unused and promised for trails. Mr. Milanoski explained the rail being used was south of route 135. He said the lumber was coming in on the main line, the East West connector from Worcester. Ms. McCarthy was concerned for extra loads coming through neighborhoods.
Chair Ottaviani explained the operation did not need permits to run. Ms. McCarthy was thankful for the information.
Link to entire July 16 Council Minutes.