A Train Runs Through It

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The rhythmic thumping of the freight train, the screeching of the wheels on metal, and the blare of the conductor's horn are a daily reminder for students living in the Riverview Suites that their dorm is unlike any of the others on-campus.

Riverview Suites, located near South Campus, recently opened for the fall 2013 semester. Since the residence hall is separated from the campus by an MBTA railroad track, Lee Kennedy Co. Inc., hired by SoHo Development, built a 104-foot pedestrian footbridge that connects the building to the South Campus parking lot, according to a press release from High-Profile Monthly.

Although Riverview Suites is designated as a UMass Lowell residence hall, it was not the university's decision to build Riverview Suites parallel to the railroad tracks, said Matt Austin, associate director of Residence Life.

While residents say they generally do not mind having the train in front of their building, there are some concerns about the loudness of the train as well as the inconvenience of the footbridge.

Emily Houle, a resident of Riverview Suites, lives in a suite that directly faces the train, says she likes the train, but its loudness can be a problem at times. "I think it's cool, I just don't like when it's loud late at night, because I feel like I can't keep my windows open when I sleep because it will wake me up," she said.

The catwalk can also be annoying to students, as it makes the walk to South Campus take longer. "I don't mind having a train right there, because I'm used to living on a busy street, but I don't like the catwalk because it's inconvenient getting to class sometimes," said Melanie Doucet, a junior psychology major.

Not all students mind the train or the catwalk, however. "I think it's cool that we live near a train track," said Jaclyn Casavant, a junior psychology major. "It's kind of cool to watch the train go by when I am walking over the catwalk. It's kind of homey."

Although students have expressed annoyance at the loudness of the train and the inconvenience of the catwalk, there are no structural or safety concerns about the proximity of the train to the building, given how infrequently the freight train passes by and its slow speed, said Austin.

There should not be any concerns about students walking on the train tracks, either, as each side of the train track has fencing, said Austin. The residence hall also has cameras in and around the building to ensure additional protection, he said.

UMass Lowell is leasing Riverview Suites for 15 to 30 years, according to High-Profile Monthly. The residence hall houses 504 students in two-room and three-room apartment-style suites.