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Fall River resident tells public-safety committee trains shake house, damaged fence; committee offers follow-up and MBTA gives idling guidance
Summary
During public comment March 18, Felicia Quimbra of 25 Railroad Avenue said train noise and vibrations have shaken her home and that the railroad damaged her fence; the committee offered to follow up and MBTA representatives said idling protocols exist and will be shared.
Felicia Quimbra, a Fall River resident who said she lives on 25 Railroad Avenue, raised concerns during public comment at the Committee on Public Safety meeting March 18 about noise and vibration from nearby tracks, damage to her fence during construction and worries about long-term foundation harm.
Quimbra told the committee her house "was built years ago" and is "made out of rock," and that frequent train passages cause shaking; she said she wanted the city or responsible parties to inspect her foundation. She also said the railroad "ruined my fence" during construction five years ago and that the railroad has offered to repair only half the fence. Quimbra said she had spoken with Jean Fox and was unsure which contractor had been responsible.
The committee asked Quimbra to provide contact information and offered to connect her with committee members and staff to investigate. Chair Hart asked committee members and staff to follow up; a committee member said, "you can contact any three of us on a public safety committee" and offered to have staff reach out the next day.
Separately under agenda item 4, MBTA and MassDOT officials addressed layover-yard noise. Jean Fox told the committee that trains at the layover are plugged into shore power below a temperature threshold (she referenced a threshold "under 40" degrees) and that on several very cold nights engines were idled to keep diesels warm. Fox said MBTA has shared a written protocol with other communities that explains the threshold and that she would provide the protocol to the committee when available.
The committee moved to withdraw the formal agenda item after MBTA explained the idling practice and indicated the city would receive the written threshold and protocol; committee members approved a motion to grant leave to withdraw the item.
Ending: Committee staff said MBTA materials and safety messaging are posted online and that officials would circulate the layover idling protocol and follow up with residents who reported property damage.
