New Haven to Providence Railroad Study “Open House” in Wakefield

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When: Wednesday, November 4 from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm (The open house is a drop-in event and you can join anytime between 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm.)
Where: South Kingstown High School, 215 Columbia St, Wakefield
Preregistration: Amtrak is asking you to register if you plan to attend, but it is not clear if pre-registration is required. Register at this link.

The New Haven to Providence Capacity Planning Study team has invited the public to join them for a public open house event at the South Kingstown High School.

They say they will have an update about the Study’s progress. The public can explore what is being evaluated, speak with members of the project team, and share their feedback.

To request interpretation services, translated materials, or accessibility accommodations, please contact info@newhavenprovidencestudy.com by Monday, October 26.

Informational and interactive stations will cover:

  • The Study’s goals and timeline
  • What they’ve heard from the community so far
  • How the Study is evaluating rail capacity, infrastructure, operations, and potential impacts on surrounding communities and the environment

Attendees will have the opportunity to share their priorities, questions, and concerns about the future of rail travel along the corridor. Members of the Study team will be available throughout the events to answer questions and hear your priorities and concerns.

Amtrak is conducting the New Haven to Providence Capacity Planning Study in partnership with Connecticut DOT, Rhode Island DOT, Massachusetts DOT, MBTA, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the Northeast Corridor Commission.

Amtrak describes the study as “evaluating alternatives to preserve and improve rail capacity and performance along the Northeast Corridor while carefully considering potential impacts on surrounding communities and the environment.” They say public input will play an important role in shaping the study and informing future recommendations.

If you are unable to attend the event, you can submit comments online.

Amtrak’s Outreach and Engagement Plan for the New Haven to Providence Capacity Planning Study describes the purpose of a “open house” event as a strategy for sharing the Study’s purpose, exploring tradeoffs, and building an understanding and consensus on future improvements.

Background About The Study

In 2016, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released a plan to bisect Charlestown with new high-speed track that would have crossed into Charlestown from Westerly, run from Charlestown’s western edge to its eastern edge, and finally reconnected with the existing railroad near the Great Swamp State Wildlife Management Area in South Kingstown.

Land in Charlestown and Connecticut was squarely in the middle of the “Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass.” The Bypass was the “preferred alternative” in the Federal Railroad Administration’s Tier 1 Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

More than 16 organizations worked tirelessly against the Bypass, including Greg Stroud and his organization SECoast, the Charlestown Citizens Alliance, and the Charlestown Town Council elected in 2016.

When the Federal Railroad Administration released its Record of Decision on July 12, 2017, and dropped the “Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass” from the decision, it was great news and a big win for Charlestown. However, the Bypass was replaced by a required study that was needed to develop a new preferred alternative and that left Charlestown at risk for an alternative that would be similar to that of the Bypass.

Amtrak made an announcement on May 21, 2026, that the study required by the FRA’s 2017 Record of Decision had finally received federal government and other funding to proceed. Amtrak estimates that the study—the New Haven to Providence Capacity Planning Study—will take up to two years.

In early June, Amtrak launched a website, https://newhavenprovidencestudy.com/ that included a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document. Amtrak says the website will be enlarged as the study progresses and more information becomes available.

We’ll keep you updated as we learn more. We are committed to protecting Charlestown and the natural resources and public and private property that would be destroyed if anything like the “Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass” returns.

Visit Amtrak’s Website New Haven To Providence Capacity Planning Study Visit Our Railroad Page To Learn More About Past Work To Stop The Bypass Sign Up For The CCA Newsletter To Stay Informed

The New Haven to Providence Capacity Planning Study website allows the public to sign up for the study’s mailing list and optionally to provide input to Amtrak about the study.

Sign Up For New Haven To Providence Capacity Planning Study Updates Provide Comments To The New Haven To Providence Capacity Planning Study