Railroad fence up for repair

The fence separating Babcock Street from the CSX-owned railroad tracks, where a train struck and killed two College of General Studies students last week, will be repaired in a joint effort by CSX and Harvard University.

Though Harvard and CSX have both at one point denied ownership of the fence, officials from both institutions have said they will work together in the interests of safety and being "good neighbors."

Harvard spokeswoman Lauren Marshall said in an email that although the school has "no obligation regarding the fence," it is "concerned with the safety of all students."

Marshall added that Harvard and CSX may appeal to other institutions that have or have had a stake in the surrounding property, including the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, Boston University and the MBTA.

Turnpike Authority spokesman Doug Hanchett said that because it was "not our fence," the Turnpike Authority would not be involved with any changes to it.

On the other hand, the MBTA will "work very closely" with Harvard and CSX in the rebuilding effort if Harvard or CSX asks it to help, MBTA spokeswoman Lydia Rivera said.

"We want to ensure that this tragic incident does not reoccur," she said.

CSX spokeswoman Jane Covington last week cited the Turnpike Authority, which used to own the land at the site of the accident, as responsible for the maintenance of the fence. But Hanchett cited a 1979 amendment, which he said freed the Turnpike authority from maintenance responsibilities.

The amendment itself states that the Turnpike Authority, or, "the grantee," as well as its "successors and assigns," will "repair, maintain, replace and renew" fences on the cited property.

CSX could not be reached for comment on the amendment.