At a meeting in the Bronx this week, CSX and Canadian Pacific railroad officials spelled out capital improvements they need to take better advantage of the Harlem River Rail Yard, and South Bronx community leaders presented conditions under which they could support additional freight rail activity there.

The two railroads now transport approximately 72 freight cars/day on two trains into the Bronx. They mainly carry flour, potatoes, onions and carrots headed for Hunts Point Market. Heading north, the trains mostly move trash.

The railroads want to be able to move modern containers easily transferred to trucks. They also want to have two intermodal tracks within the Yard so trains can be configured more easily. This would permit a total capacity of 480 rail cars/day. To make this happen:


• Metro-North RR must excavate track beds in seven locations between Poughkeepsie and Highbridge where clearances are under 17' 9". Recent work lifted the tracks so that there is only 17' of clearance.

• Metro-North will also have to lift a 263,000-pound weight restriction. Freight-rail cars generally weigh 280-315,000 pounds when full.

• NYS DOT will need to redesign the intermodal tracks in the Harlem River Railyard, adding a track and two switches.

• NYC EDC will need to lower the track level or NYC DOT raise one bridge between the Harlem River Railyard and Oak Point Yard.

• Metro-North RR will need to accommodate more freight trains in its schedule. Presently, freight trains can only use the tracks for four hours at night.

For Hunts Point and Port Morris neighbors of the railyards, air pollution and traffic safety are major concerns. Each rail car can handle two truck trailers. That means a possible increase of 960 trucks/day into and out of their neighborhoods. Civic leaders want trucks picking up deliveries to use CNG fuel and to be routed away from residential streets. Means to these ends are:


• NYC DOT will need to route trucks to minimize safety and noise impacts on residents.

• A combination of agencies will need to regulate trucks that service the intermodal yards to use CNG instead of diesel fuel.

• Additional railyards in Queens and Long Island should be made accessible in order to decrease the quantity of freight offloaded in the Bronx bound for locations further east.