South Coast Rail Construction Update
MIDDLEBORO — Now that test trains for the MBTA South Coast Rail Project are in operation, the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority has informed there are several construction projects along the route that residents should be aware of.
Construction and punch list work is underway along the Middleboro line, New Bedford Line and Fall River line right-of-way, as well at stations, layover sites and along the railroad route from Middleboro to New Bedford and Fall River.
The work will be completed Monday through Sunday, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Construction workers will be installing signs and markings along roadways leading to the South Coast Rail stations in Middleboro, Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford. The address of the Middleboro station is 161 South Main Street.
Sign installation work will be completed on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
In addition, enhancements will be made to grade crossing striping at all the South Coast Rail railroad grade crossings from Middleboro to Fall River and New Bedford. This work will be completed Sunday through Thursday from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Test trains, which can reach maximum speeds of 79 miles per hour, began in operation on Monday, June 17, according to the MBTA.
Company seeks to build $33 million manufacturing site in Middleboro
MIDDLEBORO — A manufacturing company hopes to construct a $33 million project, including a 110,000 square foot building, on land across from Trucchi’s on West Grove Street, Town Manager James McGrail told select board members at their July 1 meeting.
Rexa Inc, which manufactures electronic component and valves for industrial use to companies worldwide, has reached out to the town to seek possible tax relief for the project through tax increment financing, commonly known as a TIF.
Because of “increased customer demand,’’ the company would like to “expand its real estate footprint’’ and relocate its current operations in West Bridgewater to the Middleboro site, according to a letter from the company signed by Director of Finance Kenneth J. Garron.
The $33 million investment would include $6.6 million for land, $19.8 million for hard and soft construction costs, and $6.9 million for personal property, the letter stated. The company plans to retain 100 full-time jobs and create 25 new permanent full-time jobs over a five-year period as a result of this project, Garron wrote in the letter.
When the West Grove Street land was considered by the town for industrial use, this was the kind of business that was envisioned, McGrail said. Once one business builds on the site, others will likely follow, he said.
Select Board member Brian Giovanoni suggested the town reestablish a committee to review tax increment financing agreements. Similar agreements with other projects have required that Middleboro residents be given preference to fill available jobs, he noted as an example of terms that can be negotiated.
McGrail noted that the town’s law firm advised hiring a consultant to review the specifics of any tax increment financing agreement that might be developed for the Rexa project. He said he hopes to “get someone on board quick’’ to tackle that.
He stressed the project was in its early stages and that there will be “more to come’’ as the issue proceeds.
Safety a ‘silver bullet’ in Rocky Woods traffic discussion
LAKEVILLE – A suggestion to widen a portion of Freetown Street and create a three-way stop at the nearest intersection to the proposed Rocky Woods Development in Lakeville sparked debate among residents at a Monday, July 8 Zoning Board of Appeals hearing.
The development, located off Freetown Street, would add 200 housing units and an estimated 1,600 car trips on weekdays to Freetown Street, said the developer’s engineers.
The current suggestion would widen both sides of Freetown Street to create right-hand turn lanes for those turning on and off of the road.
This suggestion was based on a study that monitored traffic during peak commute times at four main intersections near the development over a 48-hour period. For some residents, this study wasn’t enough.
Lakeville resident Mary Jean Liberatori questioned if taking “two [traffic] counts of an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon” over two days was sufficient data for the study.
She also expressed concern about how increased traffic caused by the development would affect response times of public safety officials.
“My question as a resident on this street is: How does the addition of 200 units affect the safety factor of police, fire and ambulances trying to get past?”
Lakeville resident Larry Kostant questioned why an access road to the development could not be built through a County Street parcel that is already owned by the developer.
Lakeville Zoning Board of Appeals Chair John Olivieri said that a County Street access road could not be built because it is outside the scope of the Rocky Woods Development project.
Another resident referenced a four-way intersection in town that had been changed to a roundabout because of how unsafe it was. “How do you think putting in [stop signs] are going to make [this intersection] safer than it already is?”
Olivieri said he understood that safety was a top concern.
“Safety is a silver bullet,” he said.
Residents’ feedback will be taken into consideration as the town’s engineers conduct their own traffic study, said Olivieri.
If the town agrees to the roadway improvements proposed by the developer, the developer has agreed to fund them pending approval by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
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