Murphy Emphasizes Importance of Transportation Investment, Calls on FRA to Heed Connecticut Concerns Ahead of "NEC Future" Decision

Press Release

U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) called on the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on Tuesday to heed the concerns of Connecticut residents before finalizing a plan for the NEC FUTURE project along the Northeast Corridor (NEC). In a letter addressed to FRA's Executive Director Patrick Warren, Murphy emphasized the important economic impact of the NEC rail corridor and his strong support for prioritizing transportation investment. Murphy also expressed serious concerns with the FRA's proposed new rail line in southeastern Connecticut, which does not adequately address the historical and environmental worries of residents who live along the proposed route. While all construction decisions on the NEC require the approval of state and local governments, NEC FUTURE will create a framework to guide future planning and investments. The FRA is currently accepting public comments before issuing the next set of recommendations in March 2017.

"The economic impact of the [NEC] cannot be overstated…The transformative potential of increased rail investment is undeniable. It is in this context that the FRA undertook NEC FUTURE," said Murphy. "More than residents of any other state, Connecticut residents have been intensely interested in the work of NEC FUTURE. Underlying the intense interest is both a strong belief in the transformative potential of rail investment in the region and a fear that the current iteration of NEC FUTURE's plan will adversely affect the lives of Connecticut shoreline residents, particularly in the towns affected by the proposed bypass routes outlined in the FEIS. Therefore, I urge you and the NEC FUTURE team to heed the concerns of these residents before choosing a Selected Alternative."

Murphy is a vocal advocate for robust investment in transportation infrastructure. Through his "Fed Up" Campaign, Murphy hears directly from Connecticut's commuters about why they're "fed up" with Connecticut's traffic and aging transportation infrastructure. Murphy recently announced a plan to invest $1 trillion in transportation infrastructure to rebuild America's infrastructure projects over the next ten years and create 15 million jobs. America's deteriorating infrastructure already costs the economy close to $200 billion a year.

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