Julie Carroccia spoke on behalf of Charlestown at the Rally against the Bypass held in Mystic Connecticut on February 11, 2017. Other speakers were US Senator Richard Blumenthal, Loren Spears […]
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.
The Town Council of the Town of Exeter hereby opposes a change to the railroad alignment …
It is crucial not to let the proposed Bypass go to Tier 2. By stopping it now, you will: Ensure fast rail service to Providence; Create jobs now; Save Money; Save time and avoid costly lawsuits; Save farms and open space; Join with colleagues in the State of CT …
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.
Testimony submitted to the Transportation Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly by Stonington First Selectman Rob Simmons.
We are adamantly opposed to the southeastern bypass and will fight it every way we can. The future of our historic towns cannot be negotiated away for a few minutes of convenience for the Boston to New York traveler who will not even get off for a visit.
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.
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.
Because of the many and extreme negative environmental and cultural impacts that would be caused by the new rail segment known as the “Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass” we ask that the Bypass be removed from the plan before the Record of Decision. Supporting the removal of the Bypass doesn’t mean we are against improving high-speed rail. The Acela is already traveling around 100 miles per hour in Charlestown. Keeping the train in its current alignment would save over a billion dollars in Charlestown alone. With a more practical vision we could get investment in rail in the right places and in the right way and we could get it a lot sooner without sacrificing Narragansett Tribal land, public parklands, protected open space, wetlands, tourism assets, active farms, historic mill villages, and private homes.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
This video is from the January 25, 2017 Rally at the Rhode Island State House to Drop the “Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass” from the Federal Railroad Administration Tier 1 […]
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.
Shortly before the State House Rally to protect and support our parks and hiking trails, Narragansett Tribal land, historic neighborhoods, active farms, wetlands, homes, and more, Charlestown Town Council President […]
About 200 Charlestown, Westerly and Narraganset Tribal residents traveled to the State House Wednesday afternoon to participate in a rally opposing the plan for the bypass.
But before the rally started, a private meeting with Raimondo gave Westerly and Charlestown town council members and the region’s state legislators to hear concerns about the project.
“She heard us and she had done her homework and knew the issues,” said Charlestown Town Council President Virginia Lee after the meeting. “She took a very firm stand.”
Raimondo did not attend the rally, but she released a statement indicating that while she was in favor of the inclusion of Providence as a major hub on the Northeast Corridor, she would not support the bypass.
The Federal Railroad Administration’s new rail line proposal known as the “Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass” would bisect The Nature Conservancy’s 1,112 acre Carter Preserve and leave half of its […]
Maps, photos, and descriptive text by Cliff Vanover. Information in this post from NEC Future Tier 1 Final EIS – Chapter 7.12 Noise and Vibration. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) […]
Going to the January 25 4:30 pm State House Rally against the Bypass and for all the wonderful things we might lose?
You can bring signs that state your objection to the Bypass, but please note that Capitol Police do not allow any handles on the placards, so they should be sturdy enough to hold up and not flex too much.
Need ideas for signs? Here are some slogans that have been proposed.
Really?! Missing from the Westerly Sun’s Monday, Jan. 16, “Highs and Lows” was any mention of a meeting in Charlestown that was attended by well over 400 people!
I urge the editor to give “Highs and Lows” ink to the hearing that brought overwhelming opposition to the proposed new tracks through Charlestown. I also urge your readers to look closely at the issue and to email their comments to the Federal Railroad Administration at amtrak-comments@charlestownri.org by the Tuesday, Jan. 31, deadline. Anyone, not just someone from Charlestown, can send a comment to the Federal Railroad Administration at this address.
What: Attend a Rally to protect and support our Parks and Hiking Trails, Narragansett Tribal land, Historic Neighborhoods, Active Farms, your home, and more
Where: Inside the Rotunda of the State House in Providence
When: 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 25
How: Get on the bus with us! – Meet at Charlestown Town hall at 2:00 p.m.
RSVP: Please read the whole post, you have to reserve a seat on bus. Even if you drive yourself, there are rules for signs at statehouse, and more in this post that you will need to know.
Yes: It’s more important to attend the Rally than traveling to Springfield for FRA “open house”!
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 […]
On Wednesday, Charlestown Council President Virginia Lee and Vice President Julie Carroccia along with Westerly Town Council President Jamie Silvestri and Westerly Councilman Jean Gagnier led a delegation of Charlestown and Westerly residents representing some of the groups impacted by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) plan to a meeting at the State House.
The delegation’s goal was to bring these deficiencies to the attention of the Governor so that she could be fully aware of the negative impacts in Charlestown and nearby Westerly and Richmond. Keeping the high speed rail in the current right of way will avoid all of these impacts, save the state of Rhode Island millions of taxpayer dollars and still allow for modern high speed rail transportation to link Providence to Boston and New York.
Every State Senator and State Representative that represent the towns of Washington County have signed a letter in opposition to the “Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass”. The letter was sent to our Congressional Delegation and Governor. They have sent a similar letter to the Federal Railroad Administration. We are most grateful to all our South County Legislators for their support in removing the “Bypass” from the FRA’s long term planning. Thank you!!
The Federal Railroad Administration claims in their Tier 1 Final EIS that from Washington DC to Boston they do not impact any tribal land. In Charlestown however, the proposed new […]
Charlestown Town Council President and Vice President Press Release Officials and volunteers from the Town of Charlestown held a constructive conference call with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Friday, January […]
“This has been one of my family’s favorite hiking spots for the last 20 years or more. I’ve grown up in those woods, on these trails and can’t imagine my life without them. Not only has it been educational learning about the ecosystem and wildlife that resides there but it’s a place of tranquility. To say that I’m opposed to the proposal set forth by the Federal Railroad Administration is an understatement.”
Bypass would destroy the bucolic Burdickville village, demolish the historic districts of Columbia Heights and Kenyon, ruin the productive fourth-generation Stoney Hill Farm, divide The Nature Conservancy’s treasured 1100-acre Carter Preserve, demolish the preserved Revolutionary-era Amos Green Farm, and invade other protected conservation lands, all to enable long-distance passengers to traverse our town a minute faster than current rail transport allows. The inestimable and irreversible environmental costs to our town for that minute saved (to do what?) are staggering.