FRA extends comment period on future Northeast Corridor plan

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is extending the formal comment period for its Northeast Corridor (NEC) FUTURE Tier 1 draft environmental impact statement until Feb. 15, the agency announced yesterday.

The draft document assesses the impact of an investment program to improve passenger-rail service on the NEC between Washington, D.C., and Boston. It evaluates three action alternatives for the NEC versus a "no action" alternative.

The document reviews the potential effects on transportation, the economy, the built environment and natural resources, according to an FRA press release.

FRA officials have held 11 public hearings throughout the Northeast region in December 2015 and this month to solicit comments on the document. The FRA will use the comments to help inform the decision on a "preferred alternative" for NEC FUTURE.

The comment period for the document began Nov. 13, 2015, and was set to close Jan. 30.