Rep. Carney Urges Residents to Testify
Encourages Residents to Express Thoughts about FRA Process
HARTFORD — The legislature’s Transportation Committee is hosting a public hearing on various transportation issues and State Rep. Devin Carney is encouraging constituents and local elected officials to voice their opinions and concerns. Carney represents the 23rd district, which encompasses the towns of Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook and a portion of Westbrook.
The public hearing is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 6 in Room 2E of the Legislative Office Building – 300 Capitol Ave, Hartford.
The Committee will hold a public hearing on a variety of bills including three that Representative Carney and State Senator Paul Formica drafted related to the FRA proposed bypass through southeastern Connecticut. The hearing will give individuals the opportunity to speak about a number of transportation concerns facing the state.
The following bill proposals were drafted by both Carney and Formica, and will be heard during the public hearing:
HJ 54 RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION’S PROPOSAL TO CONSTRUCT AN ALTERNATIVE AMTRAK ROUTE THROUGH SOUTHEAST CONNECTICUT
This bill proposal objects to the proposal by the Federal Railroad Administration regarding construction of a bypass on the Northeast Corridor rail line between Old Saybrook, Connecticut to Kenyon, Rhode Island through the scenic and historic towns of southeast Connecticut.
SB 253 AN ACT REQUIRING MUNICIPAL APPROVAL OF CHANGES TO RAIL SERVICE
Carney, the leading Republican lawmaker on the legislature’s Transportation Committee, said: “many of our constituents felt that their concerns were not properly considered and that the FRA was trying to ram this bypass proposal through without a proper public hearing from those most affected by it. We agree. So, we drafted this proposal which would require municipal approval, through referendum, for any changes to commuter rail service through an impacted community.”
SB 263 AN ACT CONCERNING MUNICIPAL APPROVAL OF CHANGES TO RAIL SERVICE
This bill proposal pairs with SB 253 in that it prohibits the state from expending funds on rail projects that did not receive municipal approval through a referendum.
Carney added, “I would encourage you to support these concepts and express your thoughts on how you feel the FRA process has gone thus far and any concerns you may have.”
To find a complete list of relevant bills on the agenda for Monday’s public hearing please visit: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/TRAdata/pha/2017pha00206-R001230TRA-pha.htm
For information on how to testify visit: https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/content/yourvoice.asp.
Please email written testimony in Word or PDF format to TRAtestimony@cga.ct.gov.
Anyone with questions about bills or the public hearing process can contact Rep. Carney’s office at (800) 842-1423 or by email Devin.Carney@housegop.ct.gov.