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CAARRT recently obtained a copy of Norfolk Southern's application for a Rail Freight Assistance Grant. In December, PennDOT awarded the railroad company $3 million, just one year after PennDOT failed to approve a similar application submitted by Franklin & Marshall College (F&M had requested $9.3M. Since the County gave F&M $5, this year, NS reduced the amount requested). Last year, PennDOT questioned the economic benefit assumptions in the F&M application. But, no questions this time, no opportunity for the affected public to review and comment, just another $3 million in taxpayer funds going toward a very questionable project to expand and relocate the Dillerville Rail Yard.

F&M last year claimed in its application that "we can estimate that a completely redeveloped former Dillerville Rail yard site can potentially create 2,000 permanent jobs producing $86 million in annual wages which represents annual wage taxes of $ 2.5 million to the Commonwealth, $ 2 million in annual sales taxes and an additional 109 construction jobs creating $ 38 million in job wages and $ 1 million in wage taxes. In addition, property taxes of $ 300,000 for the County, $ 770,000 for the City and $ 2 million for the School District could be generated."

In the same application, F&M suggested that Norfolk Southern will be able to retain and expand their employment levels from 60 to 71 over three years. In contrast, in the new application submitted by Norfolk Southern, the railroad company claimed that 58 jobs will be maintained and none of the jobs were endangered or lost if the project was not completed. In addition, Norfolk Southern claimed that 62 new permanent full-time jobs will be created. However, when asked to describe the jobs to be created and exactly how the project would create those jobs, Norfolk Southern provided the following response:

" The railroad jobs will stabilize at between 62 and 70. However, most of the expansion in the local workforce would occur with our new customers. With better and more efficient rail service, they can reach new and distant markets. This will aid in their efforts to grow and create jobs. The overall project will create and support between 550 and 1,500 in construction and permanent jobs depending upon the precise program and configuration of buildings that the Hospital and F&M will place on their portion of the Armstrong and NS properties."

Finally, Norfolk Southern indicated in the application that it would move forward with the project even if the grant was not approved!

So- we have $3 million in state tax dollars going toward a project that would move forward without the tax dollars! A project that raises significant issues about the suggested economic benefits. As recently as November, officials from LGH were quoted in the local newspaper saying they had yet to confirm any particular use for the portion of the Armstrong property being transferred to it. Yet, the public relations officials from F&M keep referring to an Eds and Meds concept. Well, the Eds portion is a football field and the Meds are going to be necessary for the neighbors who will be in close proximity to the relocated rail yard.

A Better Location

12 Reasons CAARRT’s alternative location is a better choice

First and Foremost, the alternative location WILL accomplish all of the Principal’s Goals and Objectives, except for 1 lacrosse field, which can be easily relocated in the remaining green space.

Secondly, the alternative location WILL keep 12 additional acres of taxable property on the city tax roles.

Thirdly, tax monies WILL be saved by reducing by 1/3 the amount of acreage that will need to be remediated due to 100+ years of railroad usage.

Fourth, the alternative location will allow for more time and thoughtful consideration to be given to the remediation of the old Municipal Dump. How will the dust created by removing many cubic yards of soil potentially contaminated with asbestos be controlled? How and who will be responsible for cleanup and monitoring outside of the work site for dust that settles throughout the neighborhoods. What potential health risks will be involved? This remediation can not just be rushed thru.

Fifth, Norfolk Southern saves the unnecessary expense of having to build a private access bridge over the Harrisburg Pike in order to access the disconnected piece of the rail yard. This also saves the public the inconvenience caused by this unnecessary construction on the busy Harrisburg Pike.

Sixth, the alternative location will give Norfolk Southern the ability to stage one long train of empty cars for the return to Enola on the “fly” rather than waste the extra fuel and create the extra diesel emissions to build the empty train at time of departure from multiple smaller segments.

Seventh, the alternative location DOES NOT move yard engine activities to the stretch of track that runs immediately behind and within 50 feet of homes bordering the tracks in the Barrcrest and Gentry Heights neighborhoods. This activity will be necessary to efficiently service the proposed site and to build the “empty” train from the western end of the proposed site.

Eighth, the alternative location DOES NOT add to the current blockages of Farmingdale and Good roads while the “empty” trains are being built. Additionally, a long train of 1 mile plus will cause blockage on Rohrerstown Road if the train is built from multiple segments working from the western end of the proposed location.

Ninth, the alternative location remains in a more suitable, long-standing industrial area. The proposed location will move industrial noise within close proximity and line of sight Long’s Park’s Summer Concert Series, there by diminishing one of the finest and free cultural activities in the Lancaster County area. Additionally, the proposed site will be directly adjacent to the proposed Crossing at Conestoga shopping center, which is being billed as a unique, upscale, outdoor, city-like atmosphere to draw people to the area from outside regions. It is not hard to image that the proposed rail yard will have a detrimental effect on the success of this proposed up-scale center.

Tenth, the alternative location will remain being serviced by a full-time, professional fire department, with prior experience dealing with HazMat events on the current rail yard. In the proposed location, these responsibilities will be shifted to capable, but burdened, volunteer fire companies.

Eleventh, the alternative location keeps Rt.30 farther, and thus less likely, to be shut down in the face of a larger HazMat issue or fire than has been previously experienced in the current yard to date. Small scale accidents have been happening. No one can say that a larger incident is NOT possible. The proposed location has the Rt. 30/Harrisburg Pike interchange within a ½ mile impact radius and a much larger stretch of Rt. 30 in a 1 mile impact radius. The traffic chaos that would be created on either side of a larger-scale incident in the proposed yard would unnecessarily create additional dangers in the event of an emergency.

And Lastly, the alternative location, while achieving ALL of the Principal’s Goals and Objectives, does not place long-standing, pleasant, tax-generating, residential neighborhoods in danger of decay. To endanger these neighborhoods DOES NOT enhance the project in any way. It is an unnecessary loss of wealth for the area as property values fall due to the change in character of the neighborhoods.

TRRAAC's name has been turned around! We are now CAARRT!

CAARRT, formerly known as TRRAAC, is not affiliated with and has no connection to TRAC, The Railroad Associates Corporation.

The Rail Road Action & Advisory Committee

CAARRT is in agreement with the project to improve and revitalize the northwest section of the city. We do, however, feel the project and all of its proposed benefits can also be achieved with a modified plan, one that would not negatively impact long existing residential neighborhoods. We ask all to support our efforts to move this project forward in a way that everyone benefits and not in a way that harms some in order to benefit others. It simply is not necessary to place our neigborhoods, residents, and properties in jeopardy.

A better solution exists that allows everyone to WIN!

See the 12 reasons below why we feel a better location exists.

Please speak out with us so that our community leaders hold all of our interests in equal consideration. Let's ask our leaders to exhaust all possible alternatives and share publicly their positions, in detail, as to why alternatives may or may not be viable.