Proposed Plan Seeks To Connect UConn Through Rail

[Drew]

Proposed plan seeks to connect UConn through rail

"In this secluded part of Connecticut, the university not only has traffic and parking issues, Punturiero said, it is also disconnected.

An FRA plan to improve and expand rail from Washington D.C. to Boston proposes to change that.

The plan, called NEC Future, has the potential to become the biggest transportation project in American history within the next 10 to 20 years, NEC Future spokesperson Matthew Lehner said, with price tags of more than $300 billion.

It includes the addition of a railroad that cuts diagonally across Connecticut from New York City to Hartford and through Storrs to Providence and Boston."

This has been discussed before but UConn needs to hope and pray that this happens. Would make is so much easier to develop the area around the school and would be HUGE to alleviate traffic and parking congestion in the area. Imagine being able to take a train from Storrs Transportation Center to Providence/Boston/NYC/Hartford/Springfield etc. Would completely change the game for UConn IMO.

 

[Drew]

Update on the timeline for this: NEC FUTURE: A Rail Investment Plan for the Northeast Corridor: About NEC FUTURE

The NEC FUTURE program was initiated in February 2012, with completion anticipated in 2017. During 2012, key tasks included stakeholder and public outreach, data collection and analysis, a scoping process in accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements, and development of initial alternatives.

In 2013, principal activities included Preliminary Alternatives development, existing conditions analysis of the NEC FUTURE Study Area, and ongoing public outreach and agency coordination. In 2014, the Preliminary Alternatives were evaluated to determine a smaller set of alternatives for analysis in the Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

In 2015, the Tier 1 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was prepared and released for public comment. The Tier 1 Final EIS (Final EIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) is expected to be completed in 2016, followed by the Service Development Plan in 2017.

 

[CL82]

Update on the timeline for this: NEC FUTURE: A Rail Investment Plan for the Northeast Corridor: About NEC FUTURE

The NEC FUTURE program was initiated in February 2012, with completion anticipated in 2017. During 2012, key tasks included stakeholder and public outreach, data collection and analysis, a scoping process in accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements, and development of initial alternatives.

In 2013, principal activities included Preliminary Alternatives development, existing conditions analysis of the NEC FUTURE Study Area, and ongoing public outreach and agency coordination. In 2014, the Preliminary Alternatives were evaluated to determine a smaller set of alternatives for analysis in the Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

In 2015, the Tier 1 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was prepared and released for public comment. The Tier 1 Final EIS (Final EIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) is expected to be completed in 2016, followed by the Service Development Plan in 2017.

Cliff Notes version?

 

[SubbaBub]

There is talk of upgrading rail lines along the NE corridor. There are a few options between NY and Bos. One follows 84 and might end up going through Storrs.

While Storrs does need a connection to Hartford. There are better options than running a high speed rail through that part of the state. A spur rail shuttle would be plenty with stops along 44 into Manchester before hooking up with E. Hartford and a downtown hub. NJ transit has something similar for Princeton, though it is a much shorter distance.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Between the money and the land that Amtrak will need, I am very doubtful. Before any route or design plans come out, Amtrak is already running into a NIMBY backyard, some of whom are very well funded, with respect to the potential solution to straighten a 60 mile section of the existing route along the shore.

Old Lyme And Florence Griswold Leaders Speak Against Proposal For Northeast Corridor Rail Service

 

[Drew]

Between the money and the land that Amtrak will need, I am very doubtful. Before any route or design plans come out, Amtrak is already running into a NIMBY backyard, some of whom are very well funded, with respect to the potential solution to straighten a 60 mile section of the existing route along the shore.

Old Lyme And Florence Griswold Leaders Speak Against Proposal For Northeast Corridor Rail Service

"We don't wanna be connected to the rest of civilization OR care about the greater good of our area. Take your common sense plan out of here NEC Rail Service!"

 

[CL82]

"We don't wanna be connected to the rest of civilization OR care about the greater good of our area. Take your common sense plan out of here NEC Rail Service!"

Yellow turtle neck with matching pocket square guy disagrees with you. You lose.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

"We don't wanna be connected to the rest of civilization OR care about the greater good of our area. Take your common sense plan out of here NEC Rail Service!"

Would there be an uproar if Amtrak's proposal re-routed the line through a less influential, socioeconomically, disadvantaged neighborhood? I really liked the fact that they complained re-routing it would 'destroy the entire Connecticut River Estuary' while failing to acknowledge that this is not a new proposal, trains have been running along the shore for close to 150 years.

 

[pepband99]

There is talk of upgrading rail lines along the NE corridor. There are a few options between NY and Bos. One follows 84 and might end up going through Storrs.

While Storrs does need a connection to Hartford. There are better options than running a high speed rail through that part of the state. A spur rail shuttle would be plenty with stops along 44 into Manchester before hooking up with E. Hartford and a downtown hub. NJ transit has something similar for Princeton, though it is a much shorter distance.

...it's also a shuttle between the main line and one stop - the university. **Maybe** that could work for UConn similarly, but the topography makes it difficult.

High speed rail will always be tabbed for that area of the state, because it's a shortest distance. If you're going to build a totally new high-speed line, why not make it short, and possibly stop near a major university?

 

[TheDoggPound]

It would be awesome if Rentschler Field was serviced by rail. Is it at all possible?

 

[DarthGrumpy]

It would be awesome if Rentschler Field was serviced by rail. Is it at all possible?

If this happens (doubtful) and assuming any 'inland' route uses exiting rail lines (active or passive) to save on cost, both land acquisition and construction, this proposed rail would not go near the Rent. It would cross the CT River at Riverside Park in Hartford and parallel Burnside Ave/US 44 about 1 1/2 miles north of Rent.