Northeast Corridor Future: Difference between revisions

'''Northeast Corridor Future''' ('''NEC FUTURE''') was a planning initiative led by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) within the Department of Transportation to create a long-term vision for passenger rail improvements along the 457-mile Northeast Corridor (NEC) from Washington, D.C., to Boston, Massachusetts. Northeast Corridor Future developed a comprehensive long-term plan to improve passenger rail service along the Northeast Corridor, addressing capacity, connectivity, and resiliency needs through 2040 and beyond, aiming to guide federal, state, and railroad investments by producing a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Service Development Plan (SDP) to enhance rail infrastructure and service. The initiative concluded with the issuance of a Record of Decision (ROD) on July 12, 2017, selecting a preferred alternative for future rail investments, which has transitioned into ongoing efforts like the CONNECT NEC plans managed by the Northeast Corridor Commission.

Northeast Corridor Future was organized by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), with support from the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center for technical and environmental analysis. The FRA led stakeholder engagement with eight NEC states, the District of Columbia, Amtrak, commuter railroads, and the Northeast Corridor Commission, established under the same authorizing legislation. Funding was drawn from FRA’s budget, supplemented by High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) Program funds, totaling over $1 billion for NEC-related projects. The program’s leader was the FRA Administrator, with Rebecca Reyes-Alicea serving as NEC FUTURE Program Manager during its tenure.