Reaching the Hidden River

Reaching the Hidden River--August 1, 2007

Wow!  Real asphalt!  CSX improved upon its previous improvement (made in June at our request) by laying down asphalt on its property between the crossings and the path and streets.  We saw it on Race Street and on Locust.  Thank you CSX for making the crossing experience even easier on the feet and seat!  Now that CSX took the first step, it is time to connect the path to the Street!

Want to tell CSX how much you like the asphalt on the crossings?  Make a comment below. We'll get the comments to the CSX VP responsible for making this happen!

 

Renew Negotiations

CSX Asks  Judge  for  Time  to  Negotiate  with  City

On January 26, 2005, CSX asked Judge Kauffman for a 45 day delay on ruling on the Preliminary Injunction to give the parties an opportunity to talk. They indicate in their submission that at grade crossings are possible. Read CSX response here.

Effective Barricade

City  Submits  Brief  to  Judge  on  “Effective Barricade”
Free  Schuylkill  River  Park  Files  a  'Friend of the Court' Brief

The City’s Law Department submitted a brief to Judge Kauffman on Friday, January 15th explaining its interpretation of an “effective barricade” and how one should be installed at the fence between the Park and CSX’s tracks.  In that brief, the City provided drawings (for illustrative purposes) of how the pedestrian crossings could be improved so that when trains are approaching or parked on the crossings, pedestrians are prevented from crossing the tracks. Read Brief here. 
Free Schuylkill River Park files an Amicus Curiae, 'Friend of the Court' Motion in the Preliminary Injunction Hearing and renews the Motion to Intervene in the lawsuit on January 20th. Read Amicus Curiae Application here, Read Request for Renewal of Motion to Intervene here, Read Exhibits here. 

CSX Criticized as Irresponsible

Philadelphia City Council Passes Resolution Criticizing CSX for Being Irresponsible

Thursday, December 16, 2004.

  Introduced by Councilman Darrell Clarke and City Council President Anna Verna, and supported on the floor by remarks made by Councilmen Clarke, Jack Kelly and David Cohen, City Council unanimously passed a strongly worded resolution deploring CSX for filing a lawsuit to deprive Philadelphians from using City streets to access the Schuylkill River Park, parking Waste Management garbage trains in the Fitler Square neighborhood, and refusing to promptly and appropriately repair its structural supports and bridge over 25th Street.

We applaud Council for responding with such a strong resolution to the over 3000 faxes sent by

Philadelphia

residents voicing their opinion about the need for the City to vigorously defend against CSX’s lawsuit.  Full Resolution here.

Hundreds Pledge to Write CSX

Warm weather brought at least a thousand park users out to enjoy the new Schuylkill River Park this weekend. Our campaign maintained an information table at the Race St. crossing and dedicated volunteers let passerbys know about our effort to generate letters to CSX President Michael Ward before Tuesday's meeting between CSX and the City. Many people were unaware of CSX's plans to close off access and commited to sending a letter in favor of at grade crossings at Locust & Race Street. Please send a letter today by clicking here!

CSX & City Finally Talking About Safe Crossings - Write a letter today!

Promising talks are now underway between the City and CSX Transportation about how to resolve the grade crossing issue! The City is taking a strong position in favor of constructing safe pedestrian grade crossings at Race & Locust Streets (Thank You Mayor Street!) and while CSX has not agreed to a specific plan, they are now discussing issues pertaining to cost, design and timing.

Please send a letter today to CSX President Michael Ward thanking him for engaging in these talks and telling him to instruct his team to support safe grade crossings at Race and Locust Streets. The next meeting is April 20th, so please click here to write today.

CSX Representatives Tour River Park

On Monday March 8th, CSX representatives met with Free Schuylkill River Park Coalition members and took a tour of the Locust and Race Street grade crossings.

Coalition coordinators and representatives from Philly Runners, Bicycle Club of Philadelphia, Bicycle Coalition, Fairmount Civic Association, DAG, Logan Square Neighborhood Association and Philadelphia Parks Alliance made the following points:
•There is a strong demand for grade crossing from the numerous park users
•Lack of grade crossings will create a safety problem for park users below Chestnut Street
•Lack of grade crossing at Locust will impede the ability of emergency vehicles from getting south of Chestnut Street due to the abutment under the Chestnut Street bridge
•Grade crossings at both locations are critical to the success and safety of the park
•We want safe grade crossings (with current technology) rather than unauthorized and unmonitored crossings

CSX indicated that they needed the tracks as a back up place to switch trains when other locations were not available though they said it was possible to break the trains up to keep the crossings open if they were established.

Rain began to fall and the meeting ended without any resolution. The next meeting will take place between City attorneys and CSX on Thursday March 19th.

Specter & Fattah Weigh In - CSX Agrees to Meet

On March 1st, US Senator Arlen Specter wrote a strong letter to CSX President Michael Ward in support of our campaign for street level access to Schuylkill River Park. In his letter, Senator Specter called on CSX to "work out an acceptable agreement for safe grade crossings with the City of Philadelphia and the Free the Schuylkill River Park Coalition." Read the full letter

Congressman Fattah also sent a strong letter Read the full letter. Thanks to these letters and more than 500 residents who have also written Mr Ward, CSX has finally agreed to meet with our coalition this coming week.

Thank you Senator Specter & Congressman Fattah!

Mayor Street Visits Park

On February 27th, a beautiful Friday afternoon last week, Mayor John F. Street and Councilman Darrell L. Clarke joined about a dozen members of the Free Schuylkill River Park Coalition for a site visit. Mayor Street spent an hour viewing the Race Street access point and listening to members of the coalition describe the issue surrounding the pending closure of the fence at Race and Locust Streets.

Mayor Street expressed support for the Campaign’s goal and the importance of safe access to this beautiful recreational resource. He pledged to bring the Law Department, Streets Department and Managing Director’s office together to confer about how to resolve the problem. Thank you Mayor Street and Councilman Clark! Also attending the meeting were representatives of groups that have adopted the Campaign’s resolution: Lou Coffey, Center City Residents Association; Bill LeFevre, Bartram’s Garden; Kevin Gruenfeld, Philly Runners; Sarah McEneaney, Callowhill Neighborhood Association; Steve Trevobik, Bicycle Club of Philadelphia; Dennis Winters, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and Sarah and Rob Stuart, Sam Little and Andy Toy of LSNA and the Free the River Park Coalition. It was a great meeting and a boost for the campaign!

More than 100 Residents Rally For Access

Despite freezing temperatures, more than 100 residents turned out for the first Free the Schulykill River Park Rally. A great crowd of neighbors, bikers, kids and dogs marked President's Day by giving loud cheers for coalition speakers and jeers for CSX. Reporters were on hand from KYW Radio, three TV stations (6, 10 & Fox) and the Philadelphia Inquirer to help spread the word about our effort. Check out our press release and our call for CSX President Michael Ward to meet with neighbors to work out a safe way for residents to cross the tracks. Download release