FRA Removes Bypass!
(l. to r.) State Senator Paul Formica, State Senator Heather Somers and State Rep. Devin Carney
In case you missed it, the Federal Railroad Administration (“FRA”) released their Record of Decision (“ROD”) regarding the NEC Future plan. I am pleased to inform you that the controversial Old Saybrook, CT to Kenyon, RI plan was not included in the ROD. For now, the FRA will focus on improving the current infrastructure in the region and has called upon Connecticut and Rhode Island to address capacity concerns between New Haven and Providence in a ‘capacity study’.
To many in the district and region, this has been a year-and-a-half long fight against a proposed bypass that would have devastated Southeastern Connecticut. Our region’s history, culture, environment, property values, businesses and quality of life were all on the line. But, thanks to the thousands of people who advocated against this poorly conceived plan, the FRA scrapped it. This was due to our strong united voice and perseverance.
I truly want to thank all of you who spoke up, volunteered, attended meetings, and worked so hard to defeat this proposal.
A map of the Federal Railroad Administration’s selected alternative for the Northeast Corridor.
To read the record of decision, please click here.
To read the press release put out by several local state officials, including me, please click here.
To read the CT Mirror article on the decision, please click here.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Devin Carney