Commissioner Redeker,
Our members and staff have read with interest the Draft
NEC Tier 1 EIS and have several questions concerning
some of the alternatives. I am certain additional
questions will be raised as the study makes its way
through the review process, but I wanted to get these
questions to you as soon as possible in your capacity as
Chairman of the NEC Future Commission:

NEC Future Tier 1 Draft EIS
Clarification of the Alternatives 1-3

Alternative 1
Pages 4-63 to 4-64
4.7.2.4 Connecticut
“Two new segments adjacent to the existing NEC in Fairfield
County. The western segment is on aerial structure, adjacent to the
existing NEC near Stamford Station. “
Question:
Please clarify the alignment of the aerial structure. Is this structure
within the existing rail ROW in Greenwich and Stamford? Please
include a diagram of the representative aerial structure.
“The eastern segment is parallel to the existing NEC between
Noroton Heights Station and near Green's Farms Station, near the
Saugatuck River. Most of this segment is north of the existing
NEC, parallel to I-95 and inland from the coast.”
Question:
Please clarify the alignment.
Are segments parallel to the existing NEC within the existing rail
ROW?
Are segments parallel to I-95 within the I-95 ROW? Is there an
impact on any current or future plans to widen I-95?
“New, two-track segment beginning east of Old Saybrook Station,
shifting north of the existing NEC, crossing the Connecticut River
on aerial structure in Old Lyme, and continuing in a series of

 tunnels, trenches, and aerial structures parallel to I-95 through East
Lyme. The new segment shifts northeast and continues a short
distance parallel to I-395 in Waterford before crossing to the south
of I-395 in tunnel and continuing east adjacent to I-95. The
segment crosses the Thames River in New London, between the
eastbound and westbound bridge spans of I-95 and continues on
embankment or aerial structure parallel to I-95 through Groton and
Stonington, crossing the Pawcatuck River north of the existing
NEC into Westerly, Rhode Island (Figure 4-13).”
Please clarify ROW impacts.

Alternative 2
Pages 4-69

•

“New, two-track infrastructure, continuing from Westchester
County, NY, through coastal Fairfield County, parallel to I-95
typically on embankment or aerial structure through Greenwich,
Stamford, and Norwalk; terminating in Westport west of Green's
Farms Rail Station.”
Please clarify ROW impacts. Is the proposed structure within the
I-95 ROW? What factors determine if project is on embankment
or aerial structure?
Alternative 2 diverges from the existing NEC at New Haven, and
continues inland on new infrastructure to Providence, RI, via
Hartford, CT. Beginning in New Haven, CT, Alternative 2
continues north at-grade or embankment, crossing I-91 and the
Quinnipiac River through North Haven. The new segment
continues at-grade or on embankment north, parallel to I-91
through Wallingford and Meriden entering Hartford County near
U.S. Route 5, continuing north through New Britain and
Newington. In New Britain, Alternative 2 shifts east toward the
City of Hartford, entering downtown Hartford in tunnel and
continuing east in tunnel under the Connecticut River to East
Hartford. The new segment continues east into Tolland County,
shifting northeast, usually in tunnel or embankment, south of
Storrs into Windham County, crossing into central Providence

 County, RI.

Alternative 3
Pages 4-73 to 4-75
“The following describes the Representative Route of Alternative
3, highlighting the location of the second spine relative to the
existing NEC, environmental features, metropolitan areas, and
major passenger rail stations.
Alternative 3 is organized into three segments with routing options
in two of the three segments as described in Section 4.4.3,
providing the FRA with the flexibility to analyze options that
would serve various intermediate markets north of New York
should the FRA select Alternative 3 as the Preferred Alternative.
Section 4.7.2 describes improvements to the existing NEC
under Alternative 3. Only the second spine separate from the
existing NEC is described below. Section 4.7.1 describes the
Representative Route for the existing NEC.”
Question:
Please clarify the rationale for including Alternative 3
improvements to existing NEC in the Alternative 2 section.
Thanks you for your assistance.