Ken Payne: Staying With The Curves
This beautiful essay by Ken Payne makes the case that keeping our curvy train tracks and the natural and historic landscapes the train passes through are vital to Rhode Island’s […]
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Connecticut Trust Questions Amtrak’s Role as Inheritor of NEC Future Controversy
Hamden, CT – (May 4) – With a final Record of Decision on NEC Future expected as soon as late May, the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation is reaching out […]
Connecticut Trust Pushes CT DOT for Clear Statement on Elimination of Rail Bypasses
With just weeks remaining before the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) completes a five-year NEC Future planning process, finalizing a ‘once-in-a-generation’ blueprint for rail travel and investment along the Northeast Corridor, advocates of historic, cultural and environmental resources in Connecticut are responding warily to recent statements from Connecticut DOT and FRA officials.
Charlestown Agricultural Preservation Commission Response to NEC Future
CHARLESTOWN AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION COMMISSION April 13,2017 To Whom it May Concern, At the April 12, 2017 meeting of the Charlestown Agricultural Preservation Commission. all of the members opposed the proposed […]
A Flurry of News on NEC Future…
The following post was published by SECoast and is shared with us here by the Executive Director of SECoast Gregory Stroud. Greg has summed up all the new developments in […]
NEC Commission Also Urges FRA to Focus Rail Investments Toward “State of Good Repair”
The Northeast Corridor Commission promotes mutual cooperation and planning and advises Congress on Corridor policy. The Commission is composed of one member from each of the NEC states and the District of Columbia; four members from Amtrak; and five members from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The NEC Commission letter is nearly identical to Governor Malloy’s letter. “Eliminate any specific “representative alternative alignments” along the NEC. Portions of the corridor which require evaluation of alternative investments and alignments to address capacity, speed, or which have other vulnerabilities should be identified without proposing specific options.”
CT Governor Urges FRA to Focus Rail Investments Toward “State of Good Repair”
Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy is urging the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to table consideration of any new alignment of tracks on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) through Connecticut and instead focus its investments – which he says are long overdue – on maintaining the corridor in a “state of good repair.”
National Trust for Historic Preservation Response to NEC Future
The portion of the project along the coast of Connecticut and Rhode Island would be devastating to historic communities … In addition, we wish to emphasize that, in our view, the proposed project fails to comply with Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act.
In sum, we urge the Federal Railroad Administration to remove from its Tier 1 Record of Decision the portions of the project in Connecticut and Rhode Island that involve bypasses on new alignment and other draconian impacts on historic resources. Instead, the agency should conduct more detailed reviews to develop feasible and prudent alternatives that would avoid and minimize harm to these resources.
Video of Senate Committee on Finance Discussion with Federal Railroad Administration Officials
The Rhode Island Senate Committee on Finance had a presentation and question and answer session with Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Officials on February 28. That video is now available. The […]
Connecticut’s U.S. Senator Blumenthal and Representative Courtney Response to NEC Future
US Senator Richard Blumenthal and Connecticut US Representative Courtney write that the Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass “would cause massive disturbance to the lives and livelihoods of tens of thousands of residents who now live in the proposed route’s path. It would decimate the unique charm and historic character of several centuries-old towns like Old Lyme. It would disrupt major job centers and tourist attractions like the aquarium and historic seaport in Mystic,”
Connecticut’s US Senator Chris Murphy Response to NEC Future
Senator Murphy called on the Federal Railroad Administration on Tuesday to heed the concerns of Connecticut residents before finalizing a plan for the NEC FUTURE project along the Northeast Corridor. Murphy also expressed serious concerns with the FRA’s proposed new rail line in southeastern Connecticut, which does not adequately address the historical and environmental worries of residents who live along the proposed route.
US Fish and Wildlife Service Response to NEC Future
The “Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass” portion of the proposal lies within or runs immediately adjacent to the focus area for the Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge, where land acquisition authority has been granted to conserve important fish and wildlife resources.
The proposal could have substantial effects on managing these species over time, including impacts to habitat connectivity, direct habitat loss, reduction in habitat quality adjacent to the rail lines, and the direct reduction in available habitat.
The Rhode Island Division of Planning Response to NEC Future
The State supports the Preferred Alternative except for the Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass portion in Southern Rhode Island. This Bypass contains a conceptual 6-mile re-alignment of tracks which poses tremendous environmental and land use impacts to unique resources that are largely irreplaceable.
Town Council Presidents from Charlestown, Hopkinton, Richmond, and Westerly Letter to Senator Jack Reed
We believe that it would be an error to embed the bypass in the NEC Future project in Tier 1. The impacts in Rhode Island and its extraordinary costs balanced against its actual benefits in our state do not appear to warrant it. The requisite level of detailed environmental review in Tier 1 is not present; therefore it is critical not to have the bypass embedded in the project through a Tier 1 ROD. Your openness to taking our position into account is appreciated.
Jamestown Letter of Support for Charlestown Against the Bypass
Charlestown received the unanimous support of the Jamestown Town Council to remove the Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass from the Tier 1 Final EIS.
Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission Response to NEC Future
In our opinion, the implementation of the Selected Alternative is premature. FRA’s selection of the Preferred Alternative was based solely on engineering and economic criteria. Environmental and cultural resources were not afforded due consideration during the assessment of the Preferred Alternative.
CT Trust for Historic Preservation Response to NEC Future
On behalf of the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, Connecticut’s statewide historic preservation advocacy organization, and SECoast, our special project dedicated to organizing and educating the public to protect Southeastern Connecticut and the Lower Connecticut River Valley, we submit the following comments to provide feedback on the Preferred Alternative and the contents of the Tier 1 Final EIS for NEC Future.
We have organized a notable volume of informed commentary on the NEC Future Plan, but remain concerned that the Federal Railroad Administration has not acknowledged public, municipal, legislative, or Congressional concerns expressed in two states about their fundamentally flawed planning process, insufficient public outreach, or un-substantiated inclusion of the Old Saybrook to Kenyon bypass in the F-EIS.
Congressional Delegation Letter to US DOT
We seek your explanation as to whether you can legally alter the selected alternative in the ROD and remove the Westerly-Hopkinton-Charlestown-South Kingstown bypass as the state and communities have requested. If the FRA has the authority to remove the bypass as part of the alternative selected in the Tier I EIS ROD, we would ask that you exercise that authority.
We also write to reiterate that Rhode Island, specifically Providence, must remain a central part of the NEC. Any alternative that results in service bypassing the state is completely unacceptable.
Town of Charlestown Response to NEC FUTURE Tier 1 Final EIS
Dozens of homes, three historic mill villages, including Burdickville, Columbia Heights and Kenyon, active and historic farms, including the Amos Green Farm and Stoney Hill Farm, Narragansett Tribal land, 17 private open space properties, the Francis Carter Preserve owned by The Nature Conservancy, and an archived Superfund site which was once the location of a nuclear processing facility. In addition the By-Pass crosses the Pawcatuck River, nominated by Congress as a Wild and Scenic River, and lies entirely within the land management area of the recently established Fish and Wildlife Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge and the EPA designated Wood-Pawcatuck Sole Source Aquifer.
Exeter Resolution and Letter to FRA in Support of Charlestown
The Town Council of the Town of Exeter hereby opposes a change to the railroad alignment …
South Kingstown Resolution in Support of Charlestown
This South Kingstown Town Council resolution from January 23rd asks for an extension in the time to reply to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). That was answered by the FRA with a willingness to accept our comments up until the day the Record of Decision is published.
The SK Town Council does agree that the proposal will have too many negative impacts to the environment, farms, Narragansett Tribal land, protected conservation land, historic villages, and private homes.
Land Trust Council Response to NEC FUTURE Tier 1 Final EIS
The state of Rhode Island, municipalities, foundations, non-profit organizations and the federal government have made considerable investments to protect these preserves and other properties in Rhode Island’s communities for their natural resource (including habitat for rare and endangered species, watershed and water quality protection), cultural, and public recreational values. These investments were NOT made with the intention of creating a “land bank” that could be used as the “path of least resistance” for new transportation infrastructure such as the proposed new rail corridor being considered for the bypass.
You can learn more about the Rhode Island Land Trust Council at their website.
Governor Raimondo’s Response to NEC FUTURE Tier 1 Final EIS
Though I fully support the critical aspects of the NEC FUTURE Tier 1 Final EIS referenced above, I do not support the Rhode Island portion of the Old Saybrook-Kenyon Bypass as it is currently proposed.
The route the Bypass takes in Rhode Island cuts through environmentally sensitive conservation land, drinking water resources, Narragansett Indian tribal land, family farms, and historic districts. I encourage FRA to move any decisions on realignment through this segment of Rhode Island into a Tier 2 process, which will allow for a more complete evaluation of these environmental and community concerns.
Department of Interior Comments to Federal Railroad Administration
The DOI notes the omission of the Wood-Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic River study from the Federal Railroad Administration NEC Future Tier 1 Final EIS. They don’t mention the omission of the Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge however. Great Thicket does get mentioned in comments from other organizations however.
Hopkinton Resolution in Opposition to “Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass”
Whereas, through lack of specific outreach on the part of the Federal Railroad Administration, the affected Towns, the citizens, and impacted property owners were wholly unaware of the proposed new route alignment
Railroad Proposal Threatens Historic Columbia Heights
The Columbia Heights neighborhood is an historic community unique to Rhode Island. Constructed in 1918 as a mill village community for the Clarke’s Mill at Horseshoe Falls in Shannock, the neighborhood was hailed for its innovative design in providing modern worker housing of that era. The dwellings all reflect the sturdy craftsman style construction of the period and most have been restored. The entire neighborhood is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Statement of The Westerly Land Trust in Opposition to the “Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass”
Please consider these comments and points of information that were not part of the initial study during the selection of the NEC alternative. The alternative currently identified in the FEIS as the preferred alternative will have profound impacts on Westerly’s natural resources and environment.
Statement of South Kingstown Land Trust in Opposition to the “Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass”
While the proposed changes may make it possible for people who live in Boston to travel to New York a bit faster, for the people in South County it will only threaten their water supply, challenge their well-being, and deny the voice and actions of the thousands of people who have worked to preserve land.
Langevin Voices Opposition to Charlestown Rail Realignment
I have personally heard from hundreds of constituents who oppose the proposed realignment in Washington County, and I want them to know that I have heard their concerns and I support their community,” said Langevin. “I am a strong proponent of high-speed rail, but I believe there must be a solution that modernizes intercity passenger rail in Rhode Island without disturbing ecosystems, impinging on property rights, and threatening the natural beauty of Charlestown and surrounding areas.
Reed: Deadline Extended for Public Comment on FRA’s Rail Proposal
Note from CCA: This Press Release from Senator Reed’s Office does not give a specific date for the extension except it would be at “least several weeks”. That would put […]