NEC FUTURE Program – DC, MD, DE, PA, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA

Environmental Impact Statement

NEC FUTURE is a comprehensive planning effort to define, evaluate, and prioritize future investments in the Northeast Corridor (NEC) from Washington, D.C., to Boston. The NEC is the rail transportation spine of the Northeast and a key component of the region’s transportation system. The NEC supports the operation of eight Regional rail authorities and Amtrak—the Intercity rail service provider—as well as four freight railroads.

The Federal Railroad Administration launched NEC FUTURE in 2012 to evaluate improvements to address passenger rail transportation needs within the multi-state Study Area. NEC FUTURE will result in a Passenger Rail Corridor Investment Plan (PRCIP) for the NEC that will establish a framework for future investment in the corridor through 2040 and beyond. The PRCIP comprises a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (Tier 1 EIS) and a Service Development Plan (SDP). Together, these documents will provide a long-term vision for the role of passenger rail on the NEC in the regional transportation system and a phased investment plan to accomplish that vision.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is a cooperating agency in the NEPA process.

Next Steps

FRA released the Tier 1 Draft EIS in November, 2015, for a public comment period that ended in mid-February 2016. Using comments and information received from the public and stakeholders during the comment process, along with consideration of the findings of the Tier 1 Draft EIS analysis as well as DOT and FRA policy, the FRA is developing a Preferred Alternative that will outline a vision and investment program to guide future passenger rail investment on the NEC.

The FRA will present the Preferred Alternative along with an analysis of its impacts and benefits, in the Tier 1 Final EIS, expected to be released in the early fall of 2016. If appropriate, FRA will release a Record of Decision announcing the Selected Alternative in late fall of 2016. Subsequently, FRA will work with stakeholders to develop the SDP; the SDP will present a full benefit cost analysis of the Selected Alternative along with a blueprint for phased implementation of the Selected Alternative.

More Information

FRA provides full detail along with links to all project documents, including several Alternatives Development Reports, the Tier 1 Draft EIS, and project newsletters, on the project website.