U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and U.S. Representative Joe Courtney (D-2) yesterday urged the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to meet with the Old Lyme community before moving forward with any plans for a new rail route through the historic city. The FRA has started a massive, multi-million dollar undertaking called “NEC FUTURE” to develop a vision that will meet the passenger rail needs of the Northeast in 2040, and it currently includes ideas to reroute Amtrak straight through Old Lyme.

In a letter to the FRA dated July 22, the lawmakers reiterated their strong opposition to any proposal that would route a new rail line through Old Lyme and called on the Administration to attend a public forum there so that community leaders can explain how to meet our region’s rail needs while honoring historic preservation and environmental protection priorities.

“As the Federal Railroad Administration continues to develop its framework for critically needed investments in the Northeast Corridor (NEC), known as NEC FUTURE, we write to reiterate our call that you ensure the plan reflects the priorities of the people who live and work in the region. To that end, we express our strong opposition to proposals that would route a new rail line through Old Lyme, Connecticut, and we request that you attend a public forum there so that community leaders can explain how to meet our region’s rail needs while honoring historic preservation and environmental protection priorities.”

The proposed rail line realignment outlined in Alternative 1 of the NEC FUTURE Plan would shift the main rail line northward ahead of the Old Saybrook Station and run through several Connecticut and Rhode Island shoreline communities before reconnecting to the existing segment in Kenyon, RI.

Blumenthal, Murphy, and Courtney have been vocal in their opposition of any plan that would reroute rail through Old Lyme. At a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation subcommittee hearing earlier this month, Blumenthal pressed Amtrak Vice President Stephen Gardner to ditch any plans to build a new route through Southeastern Connecticut that would be strongly opposed by residents of the region.

The text of the letter is available below:

Dear Administrator Feinberg:

As the Federal Railroad Administration continues to develop its framework for critically needed investments in the Northeast Corridor (NEC), known as NEC FUTURE, we write to reiterate our call that you ensure the plan reflects the priorities of the people who live and work in the region. To that end, we express our strong opposition to proposals that would route a new rail line through Old Lyme, Connecticut, and we request that you attend a public forum there so that community leaders can explain how to meet our region’s rail needs while honoring historic preservation and environmental protection priorities.

We strongly support comprehensive, bold efforts to strengthen the NEC rail network, which for too long has subjected our constituents in Connecticut and throughout the Northeast region to daily disruptions and delays on a system that has outlived its useful life. It is time to rebuild the network and ensure it is made safer and more responsive to the needs of the millions who rely on it to live, work and commute each day. In doing so, however, the needs and priorities of the communities that will be impacted by new rail routes must be taken into consideration.

We understand FRA is set to unveil a final Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on various alternatives to improve rail service in Connecticut later this year; state governments, local entities and rail operators may then use the EIS as a springboard for localized, project-specific plans. Unfortunately, the Tier 1 EIS now underway falls short on many fronts. One of the major proposals envisioned by NEC FUTURE would re-route Amtrak through the heart of many historic towns and communities in our state, including Old Lyme. We reject such a proposal, and call on you to ensure the final Tier 1 EIS is absent any scenario that sends rail through Old Lyme. Moreover, whatever alternative is chosen in the EIS must be accompanied by an impact analysis that fairly details the chosen alternative’s impact on the environment, the community, and historical properties.

NEC FUTURE is an important opportunity to comprehensively plan for the investments required to ensure that the Northeast rail corridor—the nation’s busiest—remains safe and viable for decades to come. The FRA is spending considerable resources on this plan, and we are eager to see a final product that is worthy of that investment of time and money. Accordingly, we urge you to put forward a proposal that can be supported by Connecticut and that bolsters historic preservation and environmental conservation instead of undercutting those values. We also ask you to commit to attending a public forum in Old Lyme so FRA and the community can discuss how to develop a long-term plan that reflects the values of our constituents.

We appreciate your attention to this important matter, and look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Andersen, Director of the Florence Griswold Museum

In a week of continuing activity regarding the proposed high speed rail route, the Director of the Florence Griswold Museum, Jeffrey Andersen, and the President of the Board of Trustees of the Museum, Frank (Ted) Hamilton III, sent a letter dated July 15 to Rebecca Reyes-Alicea, the Northeast Corridor (NEC) Program Advisor for the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) expressing their “grave concerns” about recent reports that the proposed high speed train route currently under discussion will pass through Old Lyme.  Significantly, 25 members of the board of trustees had met July 14 and unanimously joined the statement of opposition to the FRA.

The letter refers to the NEC Future Preferred Alternative, which is now expected to be announced in mid-August of this year and anticipates “a high-speed rail corridor to come through the historic center of the Town of Old Lyme,” with what Anderson and Hamilton describe as, “devastating consequences to its significant cultural, historic, and environmental resources.”

Noting the addition of the Old Lyme Historic District to The National Register of Historic Places and the designation of the Florence Griswold House and Museum as a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the letter states unequivocally, “The Board of Trustees and leadership of the Museum are concerned that the essential integrity of the Town of Old Lyme and the reputation of this NHL as the Home of American Impressionism will be violated by the actions proposed by the FRA.”

Citing the recent “acquisition of the final parcel of private land that was once a part of Florence Griswold’s historic estate,” Anderson and Hamilton stress, “The unification of the historic site, and the enhancement of the visitor’s experience for the over 70,000 visitors who come here annually, will be forever diminished if this plan is chosen over other alternatives.”  They conclude forcefully, “The proposed train route will do untold damage to the setting of this National Historic Landmark and, indeed, the Historic District.”

The authors highlight their solid unity with US Senators Blumenthal and Murphy, US House Representative Courtney, State Senator Formica and State Representative Formica against the proposal and make two requests, first that the Old Saybrook to Kenyon by-pass is removed from consideration in the plan, and second that a public meeting is held in southeast Connecticut so that citizens may ask questions and receive responses.

The full text of the letter is given below:

Dear Ms. Reyes-Alicea:

Twenty-five members of the Board of Trustees of the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, CT met on Thursday, July 14, 2016 to unanimously express their grave concerns regarding recent reports that a Kenyon to Saybrook bypass will be included as part of the NEC Future Preferred Alternative expected to be announced in mid-August 2016. As you know, this plan calls for a high-speed rail corridor to come through the historic center of the Town of Old Lyme, with devastating consequences to its significant cultural, historic, and environmental resources.

In 1971, the Old Lyme Historic District was added to The National Register of Historic Places and, in 1993, the Florence Griswold House and Museum was designated a National Historic Landmark in recognition of its significance for all Americans. The Board of Trustees and leadership of the Museum are concerned that the essential integrity of the Town of Old Lyme and the reputation of this NHL as the Home of American Impressionism will be violated by the actions proposed by the FRA. Ironically, at the very time that the town is facing this threat, the Museum has just completed the acquisition of the final parcel of private land that was once a part of Florence Griswold’s historic estate. The unification of the historic site, and the enhancement of the visitor’s experience for the over 70,000 visitors who come here annually, will be forever diminished if this plan is chosen over other alternatives. The proposed train route will do untold damage to the setting of this National Historic Landmark and, indeed, the Historic District.

Our Board of Trustees stands in unity with our United States senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, with our U.S. House Representative Joe Courtney, and with our State Senator Paul Formica and State Representative Devin Carney in opposition to this plan. Further, we respectfully urge the FRA to take the following actions prior to the announcement of the preferred alternative expected in mid-August:

· Take the Kenyon to Saybrook bypass out of the plan for the Preferred Alternative, both as a concept and as a route on the map.
· Agree to hold a public meeting in Southeastern Connecticut, something that Senator Blumenthal and other elected representatives have urged the FRA to do, so that our citizens are given an opportunity to express their concerns and seek responses to many unanswered questions.

We write this letter in good faith and with the belief that you will take our concerns seriously. We look forward to hearing from you.

Very truly yours,

Frank W. Hamilton, III, President
Jeffrey Andersen, Director

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
FLORENCE GRISWOLD MUSEUM

In another development regarding the proposed train route, State Senator Paul Formica (R- 20th) sent a letter dated July 14, co-signed by State Representative Devin Carney (R-23rd) and Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder to the Northeast Corridor (NEC) Future Program Manager Rebecca Reyes-Alicea asking her to meet with them in Old Lyme to discuss the “many questions and concerns, which we feel have not been properly addressed by the FRA (Federal Rail Administration).”

The letter continues, “There is much worry in Old Lyme and the surrounding communities regarding the potential disruption this plan provides, which is why we would appreciate a conversation as soon as possible.”  Formica then states, “It is our belief that this bypass proposal is the wrong approach and will create a disturbing level of damage, especially for the people, businesses, history, culture and environment of Southeastern Connecticut, specifically Old Lyme.”

Finally, Formica asks Reyes-Alicea to “attend a public meeting in Old Lyme in the near future to provide information to everyone potentially affected and to answer questions from concerned citizens.”