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NHHS Rail Project Clears Regulatory Hurdle

The New Haven-Hartford-Springfield corridor | Image: ConnDOT

Earlier this month, the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield (NHHS) rail project took a major step forward when the initiative’s lead federal agency cleared its tier one environmental assessment, which examined plans to dramatically improve train infrastructure from New Haven, Connecticut to Springfield, Massachusetts.

Tri-State has long supported the project, which would introduce true commuter rail to central Connecticut, double-tracking sections of the rail corridor and allowing trains to reach up to 110 miles per hour. ConnDOT anticipates 17 daily round trip trains between New Haven and Hartford in 2016 (13 of these will continue on to Springfield), and 25 daily round trips once all of the project’s construction is complete. There are currently between six and eight daily round trip trains in the corridor. NHHS is expected to create 8,090 jobs during construction, and will serve as a boon for transit-oriented development through the central Connecticut corridor.

The Federal Railway Administration’s “finding of no significant impact” (FONSI) statement [pdf], which examined the project as a whole, clears the way for more local, site-specific tier two environmental analyses. The tier two analyses must be completed for proposed new stations, among other things.

Fortunately for central Connecticut commuters, few regulatory hurdles remain for several sections of the project. In some cases, the FRA granted a “categorical exclusion determination” where environmental impacts would be negligible; in others, the tier one statement was comprehensive enough to meet tier two analysis requirements.

Wherever the FRA has deemed tier two environmental analysis unnecessary (and where it has granted categorical exclusion determinations), state and federal agencies should fast track construction. Nearly four years ago, Tri-State, environmental groups, business groups, and elected officials called for this very thing.

When completed, the rail corridor will seamlessly integrate with CTfastrak, Connecticut’s first rapid transit system, creating a robust regional transit network.

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[…] this month, the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield rail project received a “finding of no significant impact” statement in response to its environmental assessment, […]

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[…] this month, a New Haven-Hartford-Springfield rail project received a “finding of no poignant impact” matter in response to its environmental assessment, bringing […]

Nathanael
Nathanael
11 years ago

Ah. “CTFastrak” is the overpriced, soon-to-be-underperforming busway which is being built by ripping out train tracks.

Not enthused about that. Bad idea.

Good news that the Springfield Line Commuter Rail is going forward quickly.

David McCluskey
David McCluskey
11 years ago

Great news! Your map should also show a direct bus connection from the NHHS to Bradley Airport. Now the focus of NHHS must on a one seat ride to Grand Central Station.

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[…] to the recent string of good news for sustainable transportation advocates in the Nutmeg State, the Connecticut League of […]

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[…] to the transit corridor. Plus, the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield commuter rail project cleared its first tier environmental review, got a shot of federal funds and construction is […]

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[…] it’s wise that the State is moving forward with the CTfastrak bus rapid transit line and the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield rail line and has begun important discussions about how to promote transit-oriented development in […]

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[…] Connecticut — With commuter rail service between New Haven, Hartford and Springfield on the horizon, the central Connecticut town is moving forward with plans to reinvent its central business […]

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