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The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has released the Tier 1
Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for NEC FUTURE, the
comprehensive planning effort for the Northeast Corridor (NEC) rail
line from Washington, D.C., to Boston. The Tier 1 Final EIS presents
the FRA’s Preferred Alternative, a vision for future growth on the
NEC that incorporates feedback from the public and stakeholders
along the corridor.
The Preferred Alternative defines an investment plan for the NEC that
would
grow the role of rail
in the Northeast, providing the capacity to
dramatically increase the number of trains and improve the railroad’s
performance. The Preferred Alternative focuses investment on the
existing NEC, improving reliability by bringing it to a state of good
repair and eliminating chokepoints that cause delays. Trains would
operate frequently with improved connections, greatly enhancing
travel options. Travel time would also improve. This vision reflects
public preferences and is supported by the FRA’s analysis.
The Preferred Alternative:
a Vision for
Growth on the Northeast Corridor
A Long-Term
Vision is Needed
The Preferred Alternative would:
Provide the capacity for up to five times as many Intercity trains as today, with multiple trains each hour, and double the number of
Regional rail trains during peak hours
Achieve high on-time reliability and efficient performance
Reduce travel time, shortening commutes and enabling faster trips:
-
Washington, D.C., to New York City in as little as 2 hours and 10 minutes
-
New York City to Boston in as little as 2 hours and 45 minutes
Improve connections, with new stations, easier access to airports from the NEC, and enhanced service to connecting corridors
Enhance passenger convenience, with coordinated schedules and ticketing for seamless travel across the NEC
Improve the efficiency of rail operations through opportunities for service integration
Provide a broader range of travel choices
Resiliency
Connectivity
Aging
Infrastructure
Sustainability
Economic
Growth
Performance
Capacity
PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE MEETS KEY NEEDS: