Amtrak Kicks Off New Haven to Providence Capacity Planning Study

Amtrak and its state and federal partners are progressing the New Haven to Providence Capacity Planning Study, which will develop strategies to preserve and increase the frequency, speed, reliability, and resiliency of commuter and intercity passenger rail between both cities, guided by a robust community engagement effort.

About the study: The study's overall aim is to address long-term needs and goals for mobility, economic prosperity, and quality of life in communities along this important corridor, while being mindful of critical historical, environmental, and cultural resource concerns. Key study activities include:

• Conducting a robust and inclusive public outreach effort to understand the needs of local communities;
• Identifying and evaluating new potential rail alignment alternatives and/or improvements to existing rail lines;
• Completing initial work necessary to define the capital investment needed in this section of the Northeast Corridor (NEC);
• Creating a final report, which will summarize the results of the study and identify next steps.

✅ What this study is: This study is an opportunity to understand the needs of local communities and identify and evaluate new potential rail alignment alternatives and/or improvements to existing rail lines.

❌ What this Study is Not: This study is not using NEC FUTURE as a starting point. This study does not have a preconceived preferred alternative alignment or set of improvements. This study is not a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental review, nor does it include an environmental permitting process. The potential implementation of any infrastructure improvements identified through this study process will be subject to additional planning, design, and environmental permitting activities executed through separate projects in the future.

Stay engaged: As part of public engagement for the study, a website and e-mail address were created for local residents and stakeholders to contact the team to ask questions about the study, submit project feedback, inquire about public meetings, sign-up for periodic updates on the study, and more. The study partners have also published an Outreach and Engagement Plan on the new website. A first step in that plan will be attending a variety of community events in the study area over the summer to initiate engagement with the public.