Norfolk Southern/Conrail Rail Connection–Bucyrus, Ohio - Surface ...

esulting in a new at-grade crossing. This alignment would not require the demolition of the T&OC
freight depot; however, a recent addition to the freight depot would be removed.
Continuing northeast, Alternative B would cross the northwest edge of a residential property.
Alternative B would then cross Rensselaer Street resulting in a second new at-grade crossing. The
Quinn Brothers Construction Company office building, on the north side of Rensselaer Street would be
demolished. The construction company’s storage yard, where the office building is also located, would
be cleared. Alternative B would continue to curve eastward and cross the north side of a residential
property before aligning parallel with the existing east/west Conrail rail line. Alternative B would
continue to parallel the east/west Conrail rail line until the rail lines converge at a point approximately
200 feet west of the Whetstone Street at-grade crossing. Alternative B was rejected because it would
result in the removal of two residences in the right-of-way.
2.3 SELECTION OF PROPOSED CONNECTION LOCATION
Several factors influenced the establishment and location of alternative alignments. These factors
included the location of existing rail facilities in the area, the location of other manmade structures
(roadways, businesses, and residences) and engineering considerations (minimum curve, approach and
connection to existing rail lines). Table 2-1 provides a comparison of the two alternatives. The table
includes a list of various environmental factors used to evaluate the potential impacts of the alternatives.
The purpose of the proposed project is to provide a competitive alternative for NS customers in eastern
Ohio and western Pennsylvania by increasing rail capacity and improving service to shippers. The “nobuild”
alternative would not facilitate competition or reduce train traffic through Cleveland and
Bellevue, as would the “build” alternatives. Consequently the “no-build” alternative was dropped from
consideration because it would force trains to take a longer, more congested and populated route.
Preliminary studies determined that both build alternatives were feasible from economic and engineering
perspectives. The evaluation also addressed the potential social and environmental impacts of the
alternatives. Both alternatives would affect the same community, i.e., the same census block.
Consequently, there would be no difference between the alternatives in the racial or economic
composition of the population affected. Potential alternative alignments for the proposed project are
limited primarily by the residential and commercial properties in the area.
2-2