Battle Re-Electrification of Amtrak's New Haven-Boston Northeast Corridor
The battle over Northeast Corridor New Haven-Boston electrification heated up in Connecticut publications in February. Connecticut Fund for the Environment (CFE) "wholeheartedly" endorsed the electrification project at a Feb. 8 hearing in New Haven, and were joined in backing it by the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, the University of New Haven, Yale and labor groups. The project, which will allow Amtrak to shave an hour off of its Boston-New York City run, has drawn fire from shoreline residents and marine trades groups. The latter contend additional rail traffic will keep inlet bridges closed longer, impeding boat traffic. But supporters heavily outnumbered opponents at the New Haven meeting. Citizens for a Sound Environment, which the New London Day editorial page described as a front group for NIMBY shoreline homeowners, attacked CFE over wetlands impacts along the rail line and charged (baselessly) that the group was in the pay of Northeast Utilities, who might supply some of the electricity to the rail line. Although the project still requires two permits from Connecticut environmental officials and Governor John Rowland says he is against the project, Republican State Senate Transportation Chair William Aniskovich said there is little the state can or will do to fight the project. New Haven Register, New London Day, New Haven Advocate
