Agency and Public Scoping Meetings For the

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

NEWS RELEASE

2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546
NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546

FOR RELEASE: October 21, 2008

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
   OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
   TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062
   Fax: (860) 594-3066
   Web site:www.ct.gov/dot

NEWINGTON, Conn. - State Transportation Commissioner Joseph Marie today announced that agency and public scoping meetings have been scheduled for the preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) for proposed improvements for the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Commuter Rail service (State Project No. 170-2296).

The Federal Rail Administration (FRA), in cooperation with the Federal Transit Administration and Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT), is initiating the preparation of an EA/EIE to address proposed improvements for the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Commuter Rail service. A notice was published in the Connecticut Environmental Monitor dated October 21, 2008.

The project corridor is approximately 62 miles in length and begins in the City of New Haven and extends through the towns of North Haven, Wallingford, Meriden, Berlin, Newington, Hartford, Windsor, Windsor Locks, Enfield, Longmeadow, MA, and Springfield, MA.

Improvements to this corridor are considered necessary in order to provide an alterative means of travel during peak commuter hours. Issues that will be analyzed in depth include operational characteristics, infrastructure needs, transit-oriented development (TOD), the effects of the alternatives on noise, air, water quality, and cultural and recreational resources, as well as other social, economic and environmental effects, and capital and operating costs. Alternatives under consideration include: (1) Taking no action other than routine maintenance; (2) Start Up Service; and (3) Full Build Scenario.

An agency scoping meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, December 2, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., at the Office of Rail, Conference Room C, 4^th Floor West at Union Station in New Haven, CT inviting all participating and cooperating agencies to provide their comments. Four public scoping meetings have been scheduled as follows:

DATE: Monday, December 8, 2008.

TIME: 6:00 PM

PLACE: TD Banknorth Conference Center, 1441 Main Street, Springfield, MA.

DATE: Tuesday, December 9, 2008.

TIME: 6:00 PM

PLACE: Hartford Union Station, One Union Place, Hartford, CT.

DATE: Thursday, December 11, 2008.

TIME: 6:00 PM

PLACE: Windsor Town Hall, 275 Broad Street, Windsor, CT.

DATE: Tuesday, December 16, 2008.

TIME: 6:00 PM

PLACE: North Haven Memorial Library, 17 Elm Street, North Haven, CT.

Any questions should be directed to Mr. Stephen Delpapa, Transportation Supervising Planner, ConnDOT, Bureau of Policy and Planning, at (860) 594-2941.

We look forward to your involvement in the development of this EA/EIE.