document: letters in support of necr tiger

8/11/2019 DOCUMENT: Letters in support of NECR TIGER

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THE STATE OF NEW HAMTHE STATE OF NEW HAMTHE STATE OF NEW HAMTHE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIREPSHIREPSHIREPSHIRE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPDEPARTMENT OF TRANSPDEPARTMENT OF TRANSPDEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONORTATIONORTATIONORTATION

April 18, 2014

The Honorable Anthony FoxxSecretary of TransportationUnited States Department of Transportation

West Building1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 9th

FloorWashington, DC 20590-9898

Dear Secretary Foxx:

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation strongly supports the Connecting ConneTIGER VI application submitted by the Connecticut Department of Transportation. This projecthe New England Central Railroad route, which has seen several years of investment by the FeAdministration and New England Central Railroad (NECR) on the corridor. This project wcompletion of a through multi-state/international heavy haul rail corridor that will pass Hampshire. The route also serves and connects Vermont, Massachusetts and ConnecticHampshires link to Canada. The four states recognize the regional importance of this corridoto complete this work.

The Connecticut DOT application requests $8.2 million in TIGER funds to upgrade 56 mileEngland Central Railroad from the deep-water ocean port of New London, Connecticut/Massachusetts state line. Although this is a Rural TIGER application, which doany matching funds, the NECR is providing over $2 million in private matching funds to comple

project, thus demonstrating their strong commitment for these necessary improvements. Thifinal link of a multi-year project to improve a north-south corridor and create the first 286,000 lfreight route in our region. The project, once completed, will connect and complement other wcompleted or in process within the region and enhance work that has been completed in New Hcompleted corridor will open business growth opportunities for local businesses as well asthrough rail distribution facilities. Additionally, this line connects with two of our state-owned shwill also benefit from this project.

The project includes the installation of continuous welded rail and supporting infrastructure upg

grade crossings and surface improvements, which will allow for an increase of the through capacity up to 286,000 lbs. as well as increase train operating speeds. The project will also crjobs here in New Hampshire as well as in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont. The comwill allow regional, national and international connectivity. New Hampshire is heavily dependeefficient rail service to move heating fuels and road salt as well as providing service to our businesses.

CHRISTOPHER D. CLEMENT, SR.COMMISSIONER

JEFF ASSISTA


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WINDHAM REGION

COUNCIL OF GOVERNMEN

Chaplin Columbia Coventry Hampton Lebanon Mansfield Scotland Willington

The Honorable Anthony FoxUS DOT1200 New Jersey Ave SEWashington DC 20590

April 9, 2014

RE: US DOT Tiger IV Grant: CTDOT New England Central Rail Corridor Upgrade

Dear Secretary Fox,

The Windham Region Council of Governments (WINCOG) is writing in support of the CTDOT Tigupgrade the infrastructure of the New England Central Railway Corridor through Eastern CT.

As the regional planning agency representing nine towns in Eastern CT, it is a major objective to infreight rail and decrease the amount of truck traffic on our roads. I am sure I do not need to convinctransportation infrastructure is taking a significant toll on our economic resources and the ability to services at reasonable price. In addition, this project has economic impacts from New London CT, tMassachusetts and all the way through Vermont.

Here are just a few of the benefits of this Tiger Grant:

Enhances and leverages a current CTDOT/NECR $5 million bridge and track upgrade pro

Existing CT Businesses can achieve shipping efficiencies by using fully loaded rail cars

The route can relieve congestion along the Northeast Corridor

Meets the presidents goal of providing ladders of opportunities by providing additional benefits

Greatly expands the capabilities of the New London Deep Water Port as well as relievinthat will be generated by the port.

In conclusion, we sincerely seek your approval of this much needed Tiger Grant and stand ready to NECR and other entities in creating a better economic environment here in Eastern Connecticut.

Sincerely,


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Charles T. BlanchardTown Manager Palmer Town Build

4417 Main Street

Palmer, MA 01069

Town: (413) 283-26

Cell: (317) 667-467

cblanchard@town

April 22, 2014

The Honorable Anthony FoxxSecretary of TransportationUnited States Department of Transportation

West Building1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 9th FloorWashington, DC 20590-9898


The Town of Palmer, known as The Town of Seven Railroads would like to show oursupport for the Connecticut Department of Transportations Connecting Connecticut U

TIGER VI application.

The Town of Palmer is located on the New England Central Railroad (NECR), the subjeproject.

Our Town has several important businesses that depend on this vital rail corridor, includmanufacturing, distribution and warehousing. In addition to the importance of rail freighMASSDOT is currently conducting a study on possible future passenger rail service alo

route that could link our town with major population centers.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is requesting $8.2 million in funding to umiles of the New England Central Railroad from New London, CT to theConnecticut/Massachusetts state line. The project includes new heavier continuous weld

Town of PalBondsville, Depot Village, Thorndike &


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network I understand that the USDOT TIGER program does not make matching funds foapplications, a requirement, the NECR is providing over $2M in matching private funds complete this $10.3M project.

I ask that you please give this application your serious consideration.

Sincerely,

Charles T. Blanchard,Town Manager


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April 15, 20

The Honorable Anthony Foxx

United States Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave SEWashington, DC 20590


We write to express our strong support for the Connecting Connecticut Project U

TIGER VI application which is sponsored by the Connecticut Department of

Transportation to fund freight rail infrastructure improvements along the Conneroute of the New England Central Railroad, a regional corridor serving New Eng

businesses. The main element of this request would upgrade the rail system tha

our business to accommodate 286,000 lb. freight railcars. This project will creatnorth-south heavy rail capacity corridor in Connecticut. This route provides our

service. It also provides the only direct rail to water access at the deep water por

London, CT.

Our business, which is located along the New England Central Railroad, depend

efficient and competitive freight rail service. Rail freight is essential to retainincustomers, controlling the cost of our inputs, employing our workers and allowi

opportunities for advancement, and our ability to solicit new business and their mneeded associated jobs and revenues and maintaining/expanding our facilitys

contribution to the local property tax base. As the national rail freight gross rail w

standard has increased from 263,000 lbs. to 286,000 lbs., we are finding it more

challenging for our business. Getting this corridor upgraded will enable our combegin shipping/receiving the heavier rail freight loads, cease light loading railca

to comply with a non-standard exception GWR and begin reaping the full econo

benefits of modern freight railroad service. As local freight rail access to rail se

facilities across North America is updated and made capable of handling the healoads by TIGER grants or by similar public-private co-operation, absent any sim

update on the our route, we will continue to face competition on an increasinglyplaying field. Absent this project, we are finding ourselves left behind on an isl

without connectivity to the full benefits of the national rail freight network.


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This project will complement and leverage other public-private projects that havsuccessfully accomplished along this regional corridor. To make this applicatio

more competitive, the New England Central Railroad is providing a 20% private

for this Rural TIGER VI application, even though none is required.

Sincerely,

Geoff BerwickDirector of Risk and Inventory Management

[email protected]

cc: Senators Blumenthal & Murphy and Congressman Courtney


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Secretary Anthony Foxx

U.S. Department of Transportation

1200 New

Jersey Ave,

SE

Washington, DC

20590

Senator Richard Blumenthal

72

4 Hart Senate Office Bldg.

Washington DC 2 51

c o [email protected]

4

22

/

2

0

1

4

,

i

t

Jesse Marshall, Chairm

New London Por t Aut

181

St

ate

Street

New London, CT 0632

Senator Chris Murphy

303

Hart Senate Office Bldg.

Wa shington, DC 20510

c o

J [email protected].

Congressman Joe Courtney

2348 Raybul'll HOB

Washington , DC 205 15

c o [email protected]

RE:

Department of Transportation's National Infrastructu re Investments grant application, sim

TIGER

VI

grant, to seek Federal Gover nment /US DOT financial assistance to upgrade NECR's

CT

model'll 286K GWR capacity

Gentlemen:

The New London Port Authority unanimous

ly

and enthusiast ica

lly

supports the New England C

Application which ha s Connecticut

DOT

sponsorship, seeking 8,253,830.00 federal dollars (plu

2,063.458.00 private match) for much needed incremental funding to address priority improve

freight rail system.

Of

particular interest to this Authority are the long needed safety and capacity

impr

ove

ments

to

es

se Marshall, Chairman


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Dispersing trade and passengers has always been essential to the success of New London's ende

Thames River meets the sea she affords wonderful deep water dockage and mooring for commer

transportation and defense vessels. The proposed rail improvements are a vital means for the re

capitalize on the global Blue Highway's potential bounty.

We need strong safe rail connections. We need improved freight capacity.

Decrepit bridges, aged jointed rail, low weight bearing capacity, etc. thwart

om

freighted comme

New London Port Authority

is

tasked to cruise fonvard with a bone between

her

teeth , churnin

suppolting every opportunity for Port improvement. Implementation

of

this projec t will enhanc

and increase NLPA opportunities.

We ask that you assist Connecticut DOT's efforts in reducing

t1 l1ck

trips and carbon emissions, c

providing economic growth opportunities, and improving safety measmes within the statewide f

by approving this grant request.

~

esse Marshall, Chairman

New London Port Authority

CC: Douglas G.

Low

, Director of Marketing Sales, New England Central

RR,

A Genesee Wyo

State Pier, New London,

CT

06320


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April 21, 2014

Secretary Anthony FoxxU.S. Department of Transportation1200 New Jersey Ave. SEWashington, DC 20590

Secretary Foxx:

The City Center District is a business taxing district in downtown New London, CT. We entthe New England Central Railroad TIGER VI grant application to improve the rail line from Massachusetts border.

Improving the NECR track capacity to handle 286,000 lb. rail cars will open many of our eamunicipalities to shipping and manufacturing companies that will take advantage of the acc

water port in New London, the rail connections to Canada, and to points west on the CSX Massachusetts. These new businesses will create employment opportunities and add to m

Upgrading the NECR line will expand commuter rail service in eastern Connecticut. There college students at universities along the line, mostly in rural districts and only accessible bSoutheastern Connecticut, with its many vacation destinations, is the tourism capital of Copublic transportation will permit this important economic industry to remain competitive for It enhances the opportunity for New London and Norwich to become bedroom communitie

further development and broadening of our tax bases.

Downtown New London has a unique transportation infrastructure. It is located on Amtrakand is serviced by Connecticuts commuter rail line. There is ferry service to Long Island, BFishers Island handling 1.5 million passengers per year. In addition, there is interstate busstation. All these public transportation services are within a radius of 300 yards and the coone mile away. The construction of the new National Coast Guard Museum on the waterfrferry terminal and train station, with its projected annual visitors of 750,000, will require tha

transportation options are maximized.

Upgrades to the NECR track will be an important first step to ensuring New London maintaas a transportation hub. We hope you view their application favorably.

City of New London


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City of New London

Economic Development Commission

April 21, 2014

Secretary Anthony FoxxU.S. Department of Transportation1200 New Jersey Ave, SEWashington, DC 20590

Senator Richard Blumenthal724 Hart Senate Office Bldg.

Washington, DC, 20510

Senator Chris Murphy303 Hart Senate Office Bldg.Washington, DC 20510

Congressman Joe Courtney2348 Rayburn HOBWashington, DC 20515

RE: Department of Transportation's National Infrastructure Investments grant applicatioFederal Government/USDOT financial assistance to upgrade NECRs CT rail line to mo286K GWR capacity.

Gentleman:

The Economic Development Commission of the City of New London supports the New Central RR Grant Application, seeking $8,253,830.00 federal dollars (plus a $2,063,458private match) for much needed incremental funding to address improvements to the frsystem.

This upgrade will allow for the development of commuter rail service from Brattleboro VNew London Connecticut. This is an extremely powerful development tool for the City oLondon. The commuter service passing by key college towns and casinos will enhanceappeal of New London as a bedroom community. This new demand will force multistoryresidential development enhancing the citys tax base.

The NECR also connects Connecticut businesses with shipping options for raw materiafinished products via freight rail to on-dock connections at the port at New London.

This grant will provide development that will reduce truck and car trips and therefore caemissions; create jobs, provide economic growth opportunities, and improve safety meaa commuter/freight rail system.


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SouthEastern onnecticut Enterp

125 Eugene ONeill Drive, Suite 309, New London, Conn


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Telephone: 860-437-4659 Facsimile: 860-43E-mail:[email protected]

15 April 2014

The Honorable Anthony FoxxUnited States Department of Transportation1200 New Jersey Ave SEWashington, DC 20590


The Southeastern CT Enterprise Region (seCTer), the regional Economic DeveDistrict for New London County CT, expresses its strong support for the ConnConnecticut USDOT TIGER VI Project application sponsored by the ConnecticDepartment of Transportation to fund rail infrastructure improvements alongregional corridor in eastern Connecticut. The main element of this request wupgrade the rail system servicing New London County, and northward to theMassachusetts line, allowing it to accommodate the North American standardlb. freight railcars. This project will create the first northsouth heavy rail capcorridor in Connecticut. This route provides for local freight rail service and ias a future passenger corridor. It also provides direct on dock railtodeep waaccess via State Pier in the port of New London, CT. It also connects with all feastern Class I railroads. These rail improvements are identified as a high prio

project for eastern CT in the 2011 Regional Comprehensive Economic DeveloStrategy (CEDS), recognized and endorsed by the Federal Economic DevelopmAgency (EDA).

seCTers business partners located along the New England Central Railroad defficient and competitive freight rail service, which is essential in providing injob opportunities to our citizens and revenues to our communities. As the natfreight gross rail weight standard has increased from 263,000 lbs. to 286,000

find it ever more challenging for our businesses relying on rail to survive and A recent $5.1M publicprivate partnership between the Connecticut DepartmTransportation and the New England Central Railroad will upgrade all of the balong this route. This proposed TIGER project will complement this State/Rainvestment and will allow completion of the corridor Without access to a mod

The TIGER funding to accomplish this project will complement and leverage o


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in other publicprivate projects that have been successfully completed or schealong the regional corridor in VT, NH, MA and CT. To make this application e

competitive, the New England Central Railroad is providing a 20% private mathe Rural TIGER IV application, even though none is required. We urge your fapproval of the federal funding to move this important project forward, ensurhealthy businesses and expanding job opportunities for Eastern CT.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

C. Stephen MacKenzieExecutive Director

cc: Congressman Joseph Courtney District 2;Senator Christopher Murphy;Senator Richard Blumenthal;CT Governor Dannel Malloy


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Regional

Leaders

AT&T

CL&P

First Niagara

Bank

Golden

Acorn

Studios

Liberty Bank

Logistics

Consulting

People's

United Bank

Savings

Institute

Bank & Trust

WILI

The Honorable Anthony Foxx

United States Department of Transportation1200 New Jersey Ave SE

Washington, DC 20590


We would like to express our strong support for the Connecting Connecticut USDO

application which is sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Transportation t

infrastructure improvements along our regional corridor in Connecticut. The mainrequest would upgrade the rail system that serves the fifteen communities of the

accommodate the North American standard 286,000 lb. freight railcars. This projec

north-south heavy rail capacity corridor in Connecticut. This route provides our loc

provides direct on dock rail to water access at the deep water port of New London

all four eastern Class I railroads.

Our businesses and the associated jobs located along the New England Central Rai

efficient and competitive freight rail service. Rail freight is essential to allowing ouemployment opportunities, retaining our businesses and our ability to solicit new

much needed associated jobs and revenues. As the national rail freight gross rail w

increased from 263,000 lbs. to 286,000 lbs., we are finding it more challenging for

survive and expand. A recent $5.1M public-private partnership between the Conn

Transportation and the New England Central Railroad will upgrade all of the bridge

This TIGER project will complement and allow completion of the corridor. Without

rail corridor, we will continue to face mounting competition on an increasingly un-

Absent this project, we are finding ourselves left behind on an island, without conbenefits of the national rail freight network.

This project will complement and leverage over $90M in other public-private proje

successfully accomplished or scheduled along this regional corridor in VT, NH, MA

application even more competitive, the New England Central Railroad is providing

for this Rural TIGER IV application, even though none is required.

Sincerely,


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document: letters in support of necr tiger

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