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Flatto noted that the town had received $2.2 million in new federal funds to complete work at intersections in the Kings Highway East and Commerce Drive area where the future train station will be located. The biggest piece of that work is the rotary off Exit 24 of the thruway which will need some new lights and other traffic measures. The bidding should get underway in November, after state engineers have signed off on the specifications, the first selectman said.
There has been a significant acceleration in the state's work in the last half year, Flatto said, noting that the state is responsible for the station, the platforms, and Americans with Disability Act (ADA) access, including elevators. Platform work has begun and the bridge network is 60 to 70 percent done, said Flatto.
One problem is that Blackrock Realty owns the piece of land needed for a road that will connect the bridge with Black Rock Turnpike and local roads. It also owns land for a public depot.
Apparently the state and TD Bank, who holds a mortgage on the land, are in talks with Blackrock Realty regarding land for, and building of, the road. The road was originally Blackrock's responsibility, along with two other sticky areas: fill needed for the parking lot, and drainage work, which is considerable. The town is not part of those discussions.
The bank is part of the discussion because it has initiated foreclosure proceedings against Blackrock, however, it may take a year before a foreclosure is finalized. In the meantime, Blackrock is still the owner.
The fill was to come out of the acreage that Blackrock would excavate for its large office building. It would have been advantageous for the realty to use this fill, because they would not have had to take it elsewhere. Now the state, the bank and Blackrock are talking about whether the fill will still come from the site or will be trucked in. s Another problem is who will pay for the creation of a cap or liner to encapsulate the heavily contaminated soil under the parking lot and the roadway. Plans have been approved and permits issued by the DEP.
When one RTM member asked whether the town might not want to acquire Blackrock's acreage for a school or other reason, Flatto pointed out that the soil is so heavily contaminated that it would take tens of millions of dollars to clean up the site. He also noted that it always had been a commercial site and one that could therefore, generate taxes.
On the plus side, the town has $850,000 which was given by Blackrock to the town as part of its conservation permit. That money is for future conservation work.
Completion of the train station and parking lot is scheduled for 2010-2011. Flatto said that is still feasible, but admitted the schedule may have to be modified.
