Posted inTransportation

His grassroots rebellion stops a federal railroad plan in its tracks

Greg Stroud is a quiet, thoughtful academic with limited experience in civic engagement; but he transformed into a relentless community organizer and grass roots lobbyist after learning of a federal proposal that would route a high-speed rail line through historic Old Lyme. Using social media, he rallied his neighbors to get the plan changed — and he did not stop there.

Posted inTransportation

Feeling heat from CT, feds say they may alter high-speed rail plan

WASHINGTON — In the staredown between the Federal Railroad Administration and opponents of a part of its plan in Connecticut to bring high-speed rail to the Northeast Corridor, the federal government has blinked. It has agreed to consider additional input from those concerned about the route the plan would take in Connecticut, and more importantly, the FRA is willing to modify that plan.

Posted inPolitics, Transportation

Fed plan for Northeast Corridor rail includes new shoreline route

Updated at 5:20 p.m.
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration on Friday released its ambitious vision for an overhaul of Northeast Corridor railroads, a plan that would create a new route through Old Lyme and other shoreline towns and upgrade the rail line from New Haven to Hartford and Springfield, Mass. Connecticut officials immediately vowed to fight realignment of the shoreline route.

Posted inCT Viewpoints

Good reasons to leave Connecticut; many more to stay

My nephew thinks we should all skedaddle right out of Connecticut as fast as our Prii can take us – last one to cross the border, turn off the lights. Party over. He emails me articles to bolster his case, and there is no question that our state is facing serious challenges. The cost of living and taxes are high and rising here, some businesses are grumpy and threatening to move to Florida and beyond, and our economy is growing slower than most other states. While still ranked near the top for our median household income, our personal revenue actually has declined since 2000; and Connecticut recently has become a leader for economic inequality among its citizens, a dubious honor that used to go to places like Mississippi.

Still…