LORDSTOWN, Ohio – A subsidiary of CSX Corp. is moving ahead with an expansion of its automotive transfer yard here, seven months after the Lordstown Planning Commission declined to approve the plan, a spokesman confirmed Tuesday.

“I can confirm that the project is still moving forward,” said Austin Staton, CSX’s director of media relations. “CSX met with the village of Lordstown in March to address concerns that were raised in a planning and zoning meeting in September.” 

Staton said he could not provide any additional details on the project.

CSX affiliate Total Distribution Services Inc. is expected to begin work in May to expand its lot by approximately 7 acres, according to recent documents filed with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.  The project is slated to be completed by October, documents say.

The company operates a rail-to-truck and truck-to-rail transloading site for automobiles either shipped to or from northeastern Ohio.

The project on April 2 received approval from the Ohio EPA for a stormwater general permit, records show. The initial phase of the project would include construction of an entrance and exit to the site and the installation of perimeter fencing. Then the site will be graded, seeded, mulched and paved by October, documents show.

TDSI plans to add a 6.86-acre lot to its operation at 2188 Lyntz Townline Road. The company already maintains two larger lots on more than 113 acres that CSX owns. Total construction would involve approximately 10 acres, including the creation of stormwater drainage, landscaping and retention ponds.

The project was initially scheduled for completion in fall 2025 but faced a setback when the Lordstown Planning Commission in September rejected CSX’s site plan.

Residents were concerned that the expansion would result in an increase of truck and rail traffic in the area. 

“I do have concerns about this final site plan review in that it does border residential property on the sides and will have an effect on our residents in many ways,” village Councilman Robert Bond wrote to the commission. 

He said the expansion would nearly double the size of the parking area to 2,000 spaces. “It will cause an increase of truck and rail traffic, particularly on Salt Springs Road and Lyntz Road.” 

Bond noted there are already issues with trains stopped along the tracks at crossings and blocking roadways, causing delays for residents and school buses. “Another possible problem is getting emergency vehicles to parts of the village,” he said in his letter. 

The mayor’s office and zoning department did not return requests to comment Tuesday.

CSX said in its application that the expansion would provide greater flexibility in offloading and loading vehicles by creating additional parking bays for the volume of incoming vehicles. The existing area becomes congested at times since vehicles are hauled away by truck at different rates per day.

Pictured at top: Total Distribution Services’ automotive yard in Lordstown.