Town of Sudbury Reaches Agreement on Acquisition of CSX Corridor

Published August 26, 2020 | Town Manager | Updated December 17, 2020 | Automatically Archived on 12/31/2020

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UPDATE 12/17/20: The Town of Sudbury has closed on a deal to acquire the 1.4-mile CSX rail corridor in south Sudbury, ensuring the Town’s control of the corridor use and the possible expansion of the regional Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (BFRT) system.

For more details, please see the CSX Corridor Acquisition Press Release.

A Purchase & Sale agreement has been negotiated for the purchase of the CSX Corridor property. The total cost of the acquisition is $1,220,500 ($1,145,500 purchase price and $75,000 estimated due diligence costs). On September 12, 2020, Annual Town Meeting voted to approve Article 17, authorizing borrowing for the acquisition. On November 3, 2020, Presidential/State Election Ballot Question 3 sought to authorize spending for the land purchase. Ballot Question 3 passed at the election. At the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on November 17, 2020, the results of due diligence were reported, an amendment to the PSA was approved and the Board voted to advance to closing, which is anticipate to occur the week of November 30, 2020.

A Recreational Trails Grant and a MassTrails Grant have been secured to allocate $400,000 to the purchase. The grant funds are reimbursements, so the funding request at the Town Meeting and Election will be a debt exclusion of $820,500 and available cash of $400,000, the later to be reimbursed by grants.

The Board of Selectmen voted at their meeting on August 25, 2020 to release the Purchase & Sale Agreement for the proposed acquisition of the CSX Corridor in Sudbury. The Board authorized the Chair in a previous vote to sign the Purchase and Sale Agreement within the parameters indicated in executive session. On August 13, 2020, CSX presented the final version of the document, upon review, the Chair and Town Manager signed the Agreement. Subsequently, the Executive Vice President of CSX Transportation, Inc. signed the Agreement on August 24, 2020 and provided to the Town on August 25, 2020. As a result, the Purchase & Sale Agreement is fully executed, and the Board of Selectmen has ratified the culmination of actions leading up to and including this Agreement.

The Town is conducting due diligence on the property. The CSX corridor remains closed to the public.

Per MGL C.160, S. 218:
Section 218: Standing, walking or riding vehicle on railroad property
Section 218. Whoever knowingly, without right is present, stands, walks, or rides a bicycle, snow vehicle, recreational or other vehicle on the right-of-way, bridge, or other property of, or used or controlled by any railroad corporation, except at a highway or other authorized grade crossing and except on rights-of-way formally abandoned pursuant to state or federal law and no longer owned by said railroad corporation or rights-of-way owned by said railroad corporation but which have been converted or leased specifically for use as a bicycle or walking path in accordance with state or federal laws, shall be fined $100 or shall be required to perform a total of 50 hours of community service which may include service in the operation lifesaver program, so-called. Any person violating this section may be arrested without a warrant by any police officer, including railroad police, and proceeded against according to law.

Learn More

Amendment 1 – Sudbury Purchase & Sale Agreement (November 17, 2020)

CSX Acquisition Info Flyer II (Presidential/State Election – November 3, 2020)

CSX Acquisition Presentation – Annual Town Meeting (September 12, 2020)

CSX Acquisition Info Flyer (Annual Town Meeting – September 12, 2020)

CSX Purchase & Sale Agreement (August 25, 2020)

City of Framingham Letter of Support (August 19, 2020)

Appraisals

Surface Transportation Board Rail Trail Negotiating Period Extension Decisions and Applicability of the State Right of First Refusal

Questions? Please contact the Selectmen’s Office at 978-639-3381.

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Andrew J. Sheehan
Town Manager

The Select Board and Town Manager provide executive leadership for the Town of Sudbury. Together, they pursue collaborative process and ethical and professional procedures to insure that Town resources are directed to providing the best services possible to protect public safety, public assets and a special quality of life in Sudbury. This office supports the Board and the Town Manager as they work toward this mission.

Description of Services

The Town Manager is appointed by the Select Board and is responsible for the management of all Town departments. The Town Manager is the appointing and contracting authority for all departments except the schools and the health department, and is responsible for overseeing all budgetary, financial and personnel administration activities of the Town. This includes preparing the annual budget, appointing all staff and setting compensation, formulating and implementing personnel policies, and negotiating all contracts with the Town’s union employees. Administrative staff in the office serves as liaison between the public and the Select Board, handle all phone calls, visitors and correspondence directed to the office, and maintain all records of Select Board meetings. The office staff prepares the warrants for all annual and special Town Meetings, election notices for all elections, and coordinates the Town’s Annual Report. They maintain records of all committee and board appointments and resignations – as well as the Select Board’s section of the Town’s web site.

Staffing

Staff in the Select Board/Town Manager’s office includes Town Manager Andrew J. Sheehan, Senior Admin. Assistant to the Town Manager Patty Golden, Office Supervisor/Information Officer Leila Frank, and Office Clerk Carol Hobin.