John Carlyle, spokesperson for the state's transportation department, tells GlobeSt.com that the negotiations went well into the evening between the Turnpike Authority, the executive office of transportation, the MBTA, Harvard University and a number of state legislators, including state Senator Steven Baddour, who co-chairs the Legislature's Joint Transportation Committee and brokered the deal.

Harvard University bid $75 million for the property, which in total is 91 acres, and as the only bidder for the full property, it looked like the university had the deal sewn up. But, immediately after it became public, a number of city and state officials objected to the speed at which the Turnpike Authority was disposing of the property because it abuts a number of key rail yards.

Last week, the MBTA's board voted to take the property by eminent domain under the agency's enabling statute which gives it the right to seize property it deems necessary for transportation purposes. The move would effectively halt the sale to Harvard.

The agreement, which Carlyle points out has not been formalized yet, would give the MBTA track rights on the parcel and the ability to approach the track from the West and the South. A track area would also be preserved for layover trains which enable the commuter rails to ultimately expand. The Massachusetts Port Authority also got an easement to operate its freight yard on the CSX property.

Carlyle notes that Harvard has agreed to stick to its $75 million purchase price despite the fact that 19 acres has been carved out of the original deal. Harvard's plans for the property were not discussed, but Carlyle emphasizes that the bottom line--that there would still be rail use at the yards--was reached.

"Everyone is on the same page," he says. "There should be no major sticking points now."

Calls to the Turnpike Authority were not returned by deadline.