**By Nick Kotsopoulos TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF**
[nkotsopoulos@telegram.com](mailto:nkotsopoulos@telegram.com)
WORCESTER — Security cameras are going to be installed at various locations along CSX railroad tracks in the Main South area in hopes of deterring illegal dumping and criminal activity there.
The city signed a memorandum of agreement in January 2011 with CSX Transportation and the Main South Community Development Corp. to initiate a pilot surveillance project, in response to long-standing complaints from city councilors about illegal activity that was occurring along the CSX rail corridor, especially in the Main South neighborhood.
Because the security cameras are going to be installed on private property along the tracks, the city’s Executive Office of Economic Development had to collaborate with private property owners to gain entry and access to their property, according to Timothy J. McGourthy, the city’s chief development officer.
He said CSX contributed $20,000 for the purchase and installation of the surveillance equipment, while the city committed $6,000 from the City Council-approved Main South Neighborhood Stakeholders Initiative Fund.
Mr. McGourthy said the pilot project will involve the installation of six fixed-video surveillance cameras at selected private property locations between Benefit Street and Gates Street along the rail line in order to m
And… Hopefully this system will be a little better than the multi-zillion dollar system they’ve got at JFK Airport in NYC. They had a little ‘incursion’ there…
It sounds like the stakeholders of the Main South neighborhood have had their stake raised a little bit. It is hard to imagine the problem that these cameras could solve unless they record license plates. Why would the cameras have to be on private property other than CSX property? Why would a private landowner consent to such a camera being installed on their property?
If the cameras do not record license plates, I wonder what it will cost to watch them 24 hours a day, now that they have paid $26,000 to install them.
What is really strange is this from the article: “He said the equipment will also be used to assess the feasibility and usefulness of using it to respond to criminal activity and illegal dumping there.”
So they set up cameras to see if it would be feasible to respond to criminal activity? How could it not be feasible? I thought the problem was in detecting the culprits.
If the cameras indicate that it is not feasible to respond to criminal activity, will they take the cameras down and let criminal activity proceed as usual?
I can see why they needed the private access as there is no pole line along the ROW that would facilitate and power the cameras. I am also willing to bet that there may be some liability reasons CSX does not want them on their property.
Also maybe the threat and the posting of signs that they are taping may have the effect of scaring off the offenders.
Maybe they will post one online so we can watch trains!!!