An early approval from the Federal Railroad Administration has set the Northern New England Intercity Rail Initiative in motion.

"A proposed rail program that would add two new routes connecting Boston to both New Haven and Montreal through Worcester could bring more than $1.2 billion in infrastructure improvements to the North East," according to an article by Sam Bonacci.
The proposed rail line was the subject of the recently completed Northern New England Intercity Rail Initiative study. According to a press release earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced a finding of "No Significant Impact" on the project. "The Initiative proposes to restore service between Boston and New Haven through Springfield and Hartford and add new service between Boston and Montreal," according to the press release.
According to Bonacci, the "study projects eight daily, round-trip departures connecting New Haven and Boston, one new round-trip connecting Boston and Montreal and one new round-trip connecting New Haven and Montreal."
RailwayAge also reports on the FRA's finding. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation also has a website devoted to the initiative.
FULL STORY: Proposed $1.2B NH-Boston rail service

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.

Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.

Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
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