During the Obama Administration, the FRA began work on a NEC Future plan that was to modernize and speedup the Northeast Corridor Acela service. One of the easiest bang-for-the-buck opportunities is along the Connecticut shore, where train speeds slow considerably. The FRA proposed an inland bypass option, which would have solved the problem. But now the local Nimby’s have succeeded in killing it off:
Bowing to local pressure, the Federal Railroad Administration has dropped plans for a controversial new rail line along the eastern Connecticut shore from its ambitious project to overhaul the railroad system in the Northeast corridor.
[The] FRA dropped plans to add new tracks from New Haven to Providence, preferring instead to focus on increased maintenance and repair of the existing rail line and allowing Connecticut and Rhode Island to work with the FRA and other states, including Massachusetts, on a “capacity study” that could include alternatives to the existing route.
This decision means that NYC-Boston travel times will probably never be made competitive. It should also be noted that political opposition came not so much from anti-rail Republicans, but from anti-rail Democrats — i.e. Connecticut Senator Blumenthal and Governor Malloy.
[…] found parking adds between $18,000 and $28,000 to the price of a house or condo in the city. And Systemic Failure reports that NIMBYs have killed off an upgrade to Acela rail service in […]
[…] found parking adds between $18,000 and $28,000 to the price of a house or condo in the city. And Systemic Failure reports that NIMBYs have killed off an upgrade to Acela rail service in […]
[…] found parking adds between $18,000 and $28,000 to the price of a house or condo in the city. And Systemic Failure reports that NIMBYs have killed off an upgrade to Acela rail service in […]