TIER 1 DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

Agency and Public 

Involvement

11.

Tier 1 Draft EIS Page | 11-i

Table of Contents

11. AGENCY AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT....................................................................................11-1

11.1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................11-1

11.2 OVERVIEW AND APPROACH TO PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND AGENCY CONSULTATION ..............................11-1

11.3 SCOPING PROCESS........................................................................................................................11-2

11.3.1 Public Scoping Meetings................................................................................................................... 11-3

11.3.2 Agency Scoping Meetings................................................................................................................. 11-4

11.3.3 Extension of Comment Period .......................................................................................................... 11-4

11.3.4 Comments Received ......................................................................................................................... 11-4

11.3.5 Effect of Scoping Comments on Tier 1 EIS Development ................................................................. 11-5

11.4 AGENCY CONSULTATION................................................................................................................11-5

11.4.1 Lead and Cooperating Agencies........................................................................................................ 11-6

11.4.2 Federal Agencies............................................................................................................................... 11-7

11.4.3 Northeast Corridor Commission ....................................................................................................... 11-7

11.4.4 State Transportation Agencies and Railroad Operators................................................................... 11-7

11.4.5 Metropolitan Planning Organizations and Local Governments........................................................ 11-9

11.4.6 Agency Update Meetings................................................................................................................ 11-10

11.4.7 Environmental Resource and Regulatory Agency Engagement Process ........................................ 11-11

11.4.8 Section 106 Consultation................................................................................................................ 11-13

11.4.9 Section 4(f) Coordination................................................................................................................ 11-13

11.4.10 Section 7 Coordination ................................................................................................................... 11-13

11.5 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT (BEYOND SCOPING).....................................................................................11-13

11.5.1 Communication Tools..................................................................................................................... 11-14

11.5.2 Regional Public Workshops............................................................................................................. 11-15

11.5.3 Public Open Houses........................................................................................................................ 11-18

11.5.4 Rail Station Outreach...................................................................................................................... 11-20

11.6 OTHER STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, BRIEFINGS, AND PRESENTATIONS ...................................................11-21

11.6.1 Economic Development Workshops............................................................................................... 11-21

11.6.2 Presentations to Interested Organizations..................................................................................... 11-22

11.7 TARGETED OUTREACH TO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE POPULATIONS....................................................11-23

11.8 DOCUMENTATION......................................................................................................................11-25
11. Agency and Public Involvement

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Tables

TABLE 11-1: SCOPING MEETING DATES AND LOCATIONS ...............................................................................11-3

TABLE 11-2: MEETINGS WITH STATE TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES AND RAILROAD OPERATORS............................11-7

TABLE 11-3: MEETINGS WITH METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 

AGENCIES ...........................................................................................................................11-10

TABLE 11-4: REGIONAL RESOURCE MEETINGS............................................................................................11-12

TABLE 11-5: NEWSLETTERS .....................................................................................................................11-15

TABLE 11-6: DECEMBER DIALOGUES WORKSHOPS LOCATIONS .....................................................................11-16

TABLE 11-7: APRIL DIALOGUES WORKSHOPS LOCATIONS.............................................................................11-17

TABLE 11-8: SUMMARY OF FEEDBACK ON PRELIMINARY ALTERNATIVE ROUTES AT APRIL DIALOGUES, 2013........11-18

TABLE 11-9: PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE LOCATIONS ...........................................................................................11-19

TABLE 11-10: STATION POP-UP APPEARANCES ............................................................................................11-21

TABLE 11-11: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP LOCATIONS ..................................................................11-22

TABLE 11-12: PRESENTATIONS TO INTERESTED ORGANIZATIONS .....................................................................11-23
Tier 1 Draft EIS Page | 11-1

11. Agency and Public Involvement

11.1 INTRODUCTION

Decisions about the future of the Northeast Corridor (NEC) affect a wide range of stakeholders, from 

today’s rail passengers and the agencies and operators providing services on the NEC to the residents, 

travelers, businesses, and communities potentially affected by the outcomes of NEC FUTURE. Since 

the inception of NEC FUTURE, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has been committed to an 

open and transparent public involvement process that involves these stakeholders in a shared 

process to identify the best solutions without a preconceived outcome.

Given the geographic scale and diversity of the Study Area, the large number of organizations and 

jurisdictions potentially affected, and the array of complex issues being considered, the FRA has 

implemented a broad, multifaceted agency and public involvement process.

This chapter summarizes NEC FUTURE’s extensive public involvement and agency consultation

activities, including public and agency scoping, as well as the public involvement and agency 

consultation meetings, briefings, and presentations that the FRA held in support of the development 

of the alternatives and Tier 1 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Tier 1 Draft EIS). For purposes 

of this discussion, agency stakeholders include the following:

4 Federal and state departments of transportation

4 Federal and state environmental resource and regulatory agencies

4 Railroad and transit operators

4 Other state agencies and transportation authorities

4 Metropolitan planning organizations

4 Local government agencies

Public stakeholders include non-governmental organizations, advocacy organizations, businesses, rail 

passengers, and the general public. 

11.2 OVERVIEW AND APPROACH TO PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND AGENCY CONSULTATION 

Appendix F, Agency and Public Involvement, contains the goals and framework for the public and 

agency involvement processes outlined in the Public Involvement Plan and Agency Coordination Plan.

The FRA used a consistent approach to agency and public involvement activities throughout the Study 

Area, with a single set of public information materials, one program website (www.necfuture.com), 

and meeting materials and publications that are primarily corridor-wide in scope. Within this 

framework, the FRA coordinated meetings and other outreach activities on a regional basis within 

three regions defined as follows:

4 South: Washington, D.C., Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania

4 Central: New Jersey, New York

4 North: Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts
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Two unique elements shaped the agency and public involvement process for NEC FUTURE. The first 

is the FRA’s close coordination with the NEC Infrastructure and Operations Advisory Commission (NEC

Commission), an organization that was established through federal legislation to promote mutual 

cooperation and planning for the NEC.1 The NEC Commission members include representatives from 

the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT), the NEC states and Washington, D.C., Amtrak, and 

non-voting representatives of the freight railroads that operate over the NEC. Connecting states and 

commuter operators on the NEC also participate as non-voting representatives. Since the NEC

Commission will play a primary role in implementing the rail investment plan developed through NEC 

FUTURE, its involvement in the program has been especially important.

Another unique element of the NEC FUTURE agency involvement process is the early engagement of 

environmental agencies through a special partnership with the White House Council on 

Environmental Quality (CEQ). In January 2012, the CEQ selected NEC FUTURE as one of five projects 

to participate in its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Pilot Program to identify, evaluate, and 

disseminate innovative ways to prepare NEPA reviews. The year-long pilot program was designed to 

promote early collaboration with federal and state environmental agencies for efficient 

environmental decision-making, and to help identify best practices for environmental collaboration 

in a complex, multi-state planning process. The pilot program set the stage for ongoing coordination

among resource and regulatory agencies throughout the preparation of this Tier 1 Draft EIS, as 

described in Section 11.4.7.1.

To support informed dialogue and effectively contribute to decision-making, agency and public 

involvement activities for NEC FUTURE have been closely integrated with the technical development 

of this Tier 1 Draft EIS, including the development of alternatives described in Chapter 4, Alternatives 

Considered. The FRA used information gained through agency and public engagement to better 

understand stakeholder concerns and to integrate information and ideas provided by stakeholders 

and the public into the work process. 

11.3 SCOPING PROCESS

NEC FUTURE began with a scoping process that enabled agencies, stakeholders, and the public to 

learn about and contribute to shaping the alternatives the FRA would analyze in detail as well as the 

technical analyses the FRA would conduct. The FRA carried out the scoping process in accordance 

with NEPA and the FRA’s Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts. Scoping took place over 

a four-month period from June 22 through October 19, 2012. During this period, the FRA invited the 

public to comment on the Purpose and Need for the rail investment plan, the Study Area, the range 

of alternatives to be considered, and the types of environmental consequences to be evaluated in 

this Tier 1 Draft EIS.

The FRA initiated the scoping process with the publication of a Notice of Intent (NOI) in the Federal 

Register on June 22, 2012 and invited interested parties to submit comments on the project website, 

 

1 49 U.S.C. 24905
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by e-mail, or by mail by September 14, 2012.

2 In addition, interested parties could provide comments 

in person at scoping meetings via either written comment card or oral testimony. A Scoping Package 

that provided information on NEC FUTURE’s early statement of Purpose and Need, Study Area, goals 

and objectives, planning context, and public involvement process was posted on the project website

(see Appendix F, Agency and Public Involvement).

11.3.1 Public Scoping Meetings

The FRA held scoping meetings in August 2012 in each of the eight NEC states and Washington, D.C.

Public and agency meetings were held at each location on the same date. The public scoping meetings 

consisted of an open house, a presentation, and opportunities for public and private oral testimony 

recorded by stenographers. Table 11-1 shows the dates and locations of the scoping meetings. Each 

public scoping meeting was held from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Table 11-1: Scoping Meeting Dates and Locations

Date City, State Location

8/13/2012 Boston, MA Massachusetts State Transportation Building

10 Park Plaza

8/14/2012 New Haven, CT Shubert Theater

247 College Street

8/14/2012 Baltimore, MD University of Baltimore, Thumel Conference Facilities

11 W. Mount Royal Street

8/15/2012 Newark, NJ North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority Board Room

One Newark Center

8/16/2012 New York City, NY Moynihan Station

380 West 33rd Street

8/20/2012 Philadelphia, PA Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Authority Board Room Complex

1234 Market Street

8/20/2012 Wilmington, DE Carvel State Office Building

820 N. French Street

8/21/2012 Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

777 N. Capitol Street, NE

8/22/2012 Providence, RI State Administration Building

One Capitol Hill 

Source: NEC FUTURE team, 2012

In addition to the NOI, the FRA widely publicized the scoping meetings and public comment period 

through legal notices and display advertisements in more than 30 newspapers, including regional 

editions of the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and METRO (a free newspaper handed out 

at transit stops). The Scoping Summary (Appendix F, Agency and Public Involvement) provides a full 

listing of the notices and advertisements by newspaper and date.

 

2 The original comment period closed on September 14, 2012; however, the FRA extended the comment period to 

October 19, 2012, as discussed in Section 11.3.3.
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In total, over 500 people attended the nine public scoping meetings. Attendees included residents, 

rail passengers, elected officials, agency representatives, business and civic organizations, advocacy 

organizations, and members of the media. 

11.3.2 Agency Scoping Meetings

In addition to their participation in the public scoping meetings, agency representatives had the 

opportunity to attend agency scoping meetings for NEC FUTURE. These meetings included a 

presentation and discussion. The intent of these meetings was to exchange information and to 

prepare the agencies to develop formal scoping comments if they chose to do so. The agency scoping 

meetings were held from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at the same locations and dates as the public 

scoping meetings listed in Table 11-1. In addition, the FRA held an agency scoping webinar on 

September 24, 2012, for those unable to attend a meeting in person.

The FRA mailed agency scoping invitations to 252 federal, state, regional, and local agencies, and rail 

and transit operators. The FRA also invited tribal governments with lands or resources in the Study 

Area to the agency scoping meetings. The Scoping Summary (Appendix F, Agency and Public 

Involvement) provides a list of the agencies that received invitations. A total of 194 people 

representing 105 organizations and tribes attended the agency scoping meetings. 

11.3.3 Extension of Comment Period 

As originally noticed, the scoping comment period was to close on September 14, 2012. However, 

the FRA extended the scoping comment period to October 19, 2012, in response to early comments 

received during the scoping process. This extension was noticed in the Federal Register on September 

9, 2012. Appendix F includes both the original NOI and the extension NOI.

11.3.4 Comments Received 

The FRA reviewed and analyzed nearly 2,500 distinct comments. These included comments from 

approximately 800 individuals and representatives of agencies and organizations. The scoping 

comments addressed a wide range of topics including the Study Area, Purpose and Need, 

alternatives, funding, environmental assessment, and public involvement process. Both corridorwide and location-specific comments were received. The following are highlights of the corridor-wide 

comments:

4 A central theme was the desirability of an incremental approach that would repair and strengthen 

the existing NEC before adding new services. This could include bringing the entire NEC into a 

state of good repair, improving operations and connections, and a phased approach to increase 

capacity, reduce travel times, and extend coverage. 

4 Connectivity and coordination were also key themes; comments addressed the need to improve 

connections between regional and local service through improved scheduling, increased capacity 

and through-ticketing, and to improve connections with airports and local transit.

4 Another theme was balancing service to existing NEC cities with service to new markets. 

4 Some commenters recommended a focus on near-term, low-cost investments, while others 

called on the FRA to “think big” and consider improvements beyond the next 30–40 years.
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4 Support was expressed for new technologies and operating practices.

4 Some comments suggested clarifying project goals with additional language on affordability of 

rail service, climate change, and support for economic development.

4 Some commenters stressed the importance of an open and inclusive public process, with regular 

opportunities for dialogue.

Other concerns were specific to a particular state, metropolitan area, or locality:

4 Many agencies stressed the importance of coordinating and supporting related plans, programs,

and policies in their respective areas. Other agencies mentioned the need to be sensitive to 

changing demographic trends and new visions for future development.

4 In each region, participants expressed support for local projects or proposals, such as the NorthSouth Rail Link in Boston, trans-Hudson capacity options in New York and New Jersey, and bridge 

and tunnel projects in Maryland.

4 Comments addressed the potential for serving new stations or maintaining and improving service 

to existing stations; many comments stressed the benefits of improved rail service to downtowns 

and metropolitan areas.

4 Participants requested the expansion of the Study Area to include areas such as Montreal, Maine, 

Vermont, and Virginia. 

The Scoping Summary (Appendix F, Agency and Public Involvement) provides a detailed summary of 

the scoping comments).

11.3.5 Effect of Scoping Comments on Tier 1 EIS Development

The FRA reviewed, categorized, and considered all comments received during the public comment 

period in the development of this Tier 1 Draft EIS. Scoping comments were valuable in refining the 

Purpose and Need (see Chapter 3), defining program alternatives (see Chapter 4), understanding the 

affected environment (see Chapter 7), and informing the public and agency involvement process.

Comments received from agencies were also important in developing the analytical resource 

methodologies used to assess the Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences.

11.4 AGENCY CONSULTATION

The FRA conducted an extensive agency consultation process for this Tier 1 Draft EIS. In addition to 

the agency scoping process described previously, this process included coordination with federal and 

state transportation and environmental agencies throughout the Study Area, railroad and transit 

operators, metropolitan planning organizations (MPO), and local governments, along with a 

concurrent Section 106 consultation process. 

The FRA structured agency consultation activities according to key program milestones to promote 

transparency and facilitate an informed environmental review process that complies with applicable 

regulations. The knowledge, data, and input that the following agencies shared through these 

activities were essential in preparing this Tier 1 Draft EIS:
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4 Federal and State Departments of Transportation – This group includes administrations within 

the U.S. DOT, state DOTs, and other state agencies that plan for and provide transportation 

infrastructure and/or services within the Study Area. 

4 Federal and State Environmental Resource and Regulatory Agencies – This group includes federal 

and state agencies with responsibility for the environmental resources addressed in this Draft 

Tier 1 EIS. 

4 Railroad and Transit Operators – This group includes railroad and transit operators (including 

freight railroads) that operate along the existing NEC and its connecting corridors.

4 Other State Agencies and Transportation Authorities – This group includes other select state 

agencies within the Study Area, such as planning and economic development agencies, as well as 

bi-state or multi-state agencies. Metropolitan planning organizations within the Study Area play 

a prominent role in transportation planning throughout their respective regions and serve as 

representatives of their member municipalities and counties.

4 Local Government Agencies – This group includes select county and local agencies within the 

Study Area.

4 Technical Working Groups – The service planning and environmental review processes require 

technical information in multiple areas. To develop this information, a number of Technical 

Working Groups (TWG) were formed: Alternatives Development, Environmental, Engineering and 

Capital Cost, Operations, and Ridership and Revenue. The TWGs included FRA representatives, as 

well as members of the stakeholder community to seek their input on the methods proposed to 

conduct analysis as well as to review outputs of analysis. Stakeholders also provided valuable 

insights on past, ongoing, and future planning efforts that informed the alternatives development 

process and environmental analysis. 

11.4.1 Lead and Cooperating Agencies

Sections 1501.5–1501.6 of the CEQ Regulations for Implementing NEPA define federal agency roles 

and responsibilities in the NEPA process. The lead federal agency is the designated federal agency 

that is responsible for undertaking and ensuring compliance with NEPA. For NEC FUTURE, the FRA is 

the designated lead federal agency. 

The CEQ regulations also define cooperating agencies. Section 1508.5 defines cooperating agencies 

as those federal agencies, other than the lead agency, that have jurisdiction by law or a special 

expertise with respect to any environmental impact involved in a proposal (or a reasonable 

alternative) for legislation or other major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the 

human environment. The FRA invited the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to be a cooperating 

agency, in light of the FTA’s special expertise in passenger rail alternatives and environmental 

reviews, and in consideration of the many commuter railroads that might seek FTA funding to 

implement projects subsequent to the NEC FUTURE Tier 1 EIS Record of Decision. The FTA accepted 

the FRA’s invitation to be a cooperating agency, and since that time, the FRA has coordinated with 

the FTA on a regular basis on the development of alternatives and this Tier 1 Draft EIS.
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11.4.2 Federal Agencies

The FRA coordinated with other federal agencies on several levels. First, periodic coordination 

meetings for NEC FUTURE occurred at the headquarters level with other U.S. DOT modal 

administrations, including the FTA, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Aviation 

Administration, and the Maritime Administration. These meetings provided an avenue for 

consideration of the multimodal implications of NEC FUTURE and ensured that leadership from other 

U.S. DOT modes remained fully informed about the progress of NEC FUTURE. Second, division 

representatives of some of the modal administrations attended the other coordination meetings 

described in this chapter, such as the agency scoping meetings, the March 2014 agency update 

meetings, and the environmental resource and regulatory coordination meetings. Third, federal 

environmental resource and regulatory agencies were key partners in the CEQ Pilot and subsequent 

coordination process. 

11.4.3 Northeast Corridor Commission

As described in Section 11.1, the FRA coordinated regularly with the NEC Commission. This 

coordination included biweekly calls or meetings with NEC Commission staff, frequent meetings, and

webinars with the NEC Commission Planning Committee, and occasional briefings for the NEC

Commissioners.

11.4.4 State Transportation Agencies and Railroad Operators

Throughout the course of the program, the FRA held a variety of meetings and briefings with state 

transportation agencies and railroad operators to provide for dialogue and timely exchange of 

information. The meetings created opportunities to share information and obtain input on study

elements or findings, as well as insight and guidance from stakeholders toward improving the study

process. Table 11-2 lists in chronological order the meetings held with state DOTs and railroad 

operators. (Beyond the meetings shown in the table, additional consultation with many of these 

organizations took place as part of the NEC Commission coordination process.)

Table 11-2: Meetings with State Transportation Agencies and Railroad Operators

Date Stakeholder

3/16/2012 NJ TRANSIT

3/19/2012 Amtrak

5/3/2012 Webinar with Amtrak, commuter, and freight railroads (CSX Corporation, Norfolk Southern 

Railway, Providence & Worcester RR)

5/15/2012 Amtrak Board of Directors briefing

5/22/2012 New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA); MTA-Metro-North Railroad; 

MTA-Long Island Rail Road

6/14/2012 State of Connecticut Executive

6/21/2012 PANYNJ

6/21/2012 Virginia Department of Rail & Public Transportation

6/25/2012

New York State DOT, New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC), New York City 

DOT, PANYNJ, Westchester County DOT, New York City Economic Development Corporation, 

New York City Department of City Planning

7/12/2012 North Carolina DOT briefing

7/24/2012 Pennsylvania DOT/City of Philadelphia
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Table 11-2: Meetings with State Transportation Agencies and Railroad Operators

(continued)

Date Stakeholder

9/7/2012 Amtrak 

10/5/2012 Meeting with Corridor States (Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New 

York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts)

10/11/2012 Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) and Federal Aviation Association 

10/23/2012 Rhode Island DOT and Providence & Worcester RR

10/24/2012 Massachusetts DOT

10/25/2012 Massachusetts DOT/Boston Region MPO 

11/26/2012 Maryland DOT/Maryland Transit Administration

1/7/2013 PANYNJ – Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) 

1/8/2013 Massachusetts DOT Program Managers 

3/13/2013 Connecticut DOT

3/13/2013 NJ TRANSIT

3/14/2013 Amtrak

3/21/2013 District of Columbia DOT

4/1/2013 Maryland DOT

4/4/2013 New York State DOT

4/5/2013 Rhode Island DOT

4/8/2013 MTA 

4/26/2013 PANYNJ

5/20/2013 Metro-North Railroad

5/23/2013 Delaware DOT

6/21/2013 Massachusetts DOT

9/20/2013 Amtrak

9/26/2013 Virginia Department of Rail & Public Transportation

11/13/2013 NJ TRANSIT 

11/19/2013 MTA 

11/21/2013 Amtrak

11/22/2013 Connecticut DOT

12/4/2013 Massachusetts DOT

12/17/2013 Rhode Island DOT

1/15/2014 Freight railroads (CSX Corporation, Norfolk Southern Railway, Providence & Worcester RR)

1/23/2014 Amtrak

2/25/2014 Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

4/23/2014 Virginia Department of Rail & Public Transportation

6/12/2014 NJ TRANSIT

6/12/2014 NJ TRANSIT, MTA, Connecticut DOT

6/18/2014 Maryland DOT and Maryland Area Regional Commuter

6/26/2014 MTA

6/30/2014 Connecticut DOT

7/2/2014 Massachusetts DOT, Massachusetts Bay Area Transportation Authority (MBTA)

7/9/2014 Amtrak

7/9/2014 Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Delaware DOT
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Table 11-2: Meetings with State Transportation Agencies and Railroad Operators

(continued)

Date Stakeholder

8/26/2014 MTA 

8/28/2014 Freight railroads (CSX Corporation, Norfolk Southern Railway, Providence & Worcester RR)

9/15/2014 Amtrak

9/16/2014 NJ TRANSIT

9/16/2014 Connecticut Transportation Commissioner

9/24/2014 Webinar for Adjoining States (Vermont DOT, New Hampshire DOT, Northern New England 

Passenger Rail Authority, North Carolina DOT)

10/28/2014 Pennsylvania DOT

10/29/2014 Massachusetts DOT, MBTA

12/12/2014 NY Metropolitan Transportation Authority

1/28/2015 Amtrak Board of Directors briefing

1/15/2015 Virginia Railway Express

2/23/2015 NJ TRANSIT

3/4/2015 NY Metropolitan Transportation Authority

3/23/2015 Amtrak 

Source: NEC FUTURE team, 2015

11.4.5 Metropolitan Planning Organizations and Local Governments

The MPOs of the Northeast region play a critical role in transportation analysis and decision-making 

in their respective metropolitan regions, and as such have served as partners for NEC FUTURE, both 

on technical and policy levels. There are approximately 49 MPOs in the Study Area.

3

The FRA coordinated with the MPOs and conducted periodic outreach to local governments. Stafflevel coordination with MPOs included both general briefings and technically focused meetings at 

individual MPOs, such as coordination on travel demand and air quality data and analysis; webinars 

to brief or update groups of MPOs on the program; and a coordination webinar in July 2014 to which 

all of the MPOs were invited. This webinar launched further coordination with the MPOs on the 

specific topics of land cover, climate change, air quality, Environmental Justice (EJ) outreach, and 

economics. The FRA also provided presentations as requested for MPO decision-making bodies, 

technical committees, and at various MPO forums and events. The MPOs were also invited to 

participate in agency scoping meetings and in the March 2014 agency update meetings described in 

Section 11.6.

The FRA coordinated with county and municipal governments less extensively than with MPOs 

because of the broad, Tier 1 level of review undertaken. The FRA invited municipal officials in cities 

along the existing NEC to the public scoping meetings described in Section 11.3. The FRA also invited 

city officials (from locations with significant levels of existing Intercity rail service) to participate in 

agency scoping meetings and in the subsequent March 2014 agency update meetings described in 

the next section. (The Scoping Summary in Appendix F, Agency and Public Involvement, lists these 

cities among the agency scoping invitees.)

 

3 The number of MPOs in the Study Area is in flux because of ongoing consolidation amongst some MPOs.
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The FRA also met with individual representatives of several cities on request, and city representatives 

took part in various coordination meetings concerning related initiatives currently underway on the 

NEC. Briefings on the program were also provided to Nassau and Suffolk Counties’ (New York) 

representatives to explain the program and discuss potential Long Island route options. In addition, 

a brochure was sent to the chief elected official of each municipality along the existing NEC and 

Representative Routes prior to the November 2014 public open houses. The brochure described the 

program and invited participation at the open houses or through the website. Table 11-3 lists 

meetings held with MPOs and local governments and agencies for NEC FUTURE.

Table 11-3: Meetings with Metropolitan Planning Organizations and Local Government

Agencies

Date Metropolitan Planning Organizations and Local Agencies

6/14/2012 North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA)

6/25/2012 NY State interagency meeting with NYSDOT, NYMTC, and others

7/24/2012 Pennsylvania DOT/City of Philadelphia interagency meeting with DVRPC and others

10/4/2012 Metropolitan Area Planning (MAP) Forum – NYMTC, NJTPA, South Western Regional Planning 

Agency (SWRPA), Greater Bridgeport Valley MPO, Housatonic Valley MPO

11/14/2012 WILMAPCO – presentation at Our Town Forum, Newark, DE

3/11/2013 NJTPA

3/19/2013 Nassau County Department of Public Works 

3/25/2013 Baltimore Metropolitan Council (staff briefing) 

3/28/2013 SWRPA

5/14/2013 New Haven Economic Development Commission

5/28/2013 Connecticut MPOs briefing (webinar)

6/20/2013 NYMTC Program, Finance, and Administration Committee (PFAC)

6/28/2013 WILMAPCO (staff briefing)

7/22/2013 Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning

5/16/2014 MAP Forum 

9/29/2014 Suffolk County briefing

10/8/2014 Nassau County briefing

11/10/2014 Capitol Region Council of Governments (presentation to Council)

11/25/2014 Baltimore Metropolitan Council (presentation to Council)

1/8/2015 WILMAPCO (presentation to Council)

2/19/2015 WILMAPCO (presentation to Technical Advisory Committee)

6/11/2015 MAP Forum

Source: NEC FUTURE team, 2015

11.4.6 Agency Update Meetings

In March 2014, the FRA held agency meetings in each NEC state and Washington, D.C. The purpose 

of the meetings was for the FRA to provide an update on the program and the approach being used 

to develop this Tier 1 Draft EIS. All agency representatives previously invited to participate in the 

August 2012 agency scoping meetings were invited to attend, including federal, state, and regional 

transportation and environmental agencies, MPOs, and city officials in jurisdictions with existing 

intercity service on the NEC.
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A total of 136 agency representatives participated in these meetings, which included a presentation 

and discussion. Several main themes emerged during these discussions, including the nature of the 

decision-making process, expected outcomes, coordination with individual states and other projects 

on the corridor, the role of high-speed rail, funding, and freight movement considerations. 

11.4.7 Environmental Resource and Regulatory Agency Engagement Process

11.4.7.1 Council on Environmental Quality Pilot Project

In January 2012, the CEQ and the FRA announced the selection of the NEC FUTURE Tier 1 EIS as a pilot 

project to demonstrate the effectiveness of early collaboration with federal and state environmental 

agencies in efficient environmental decision-making. The pilot project was designed to help avoid the 

conflicts and delays often found in complex, multi-state transportation projects by engaging 

environmental resource and regulatory agencies early in the environmental review and assessment 

process. 

To overcome the challenge of coordinating across multiple agencies and within their respective 

organizations, the FRA designated formal points of contact for NEC FUTURE with federal and state 

resource and regulatory agencies. The FRA identified points of contact at the headquarters level and, 

if appropriate, at the regional or field office level. State transportation and economic development 

representatives, as well as State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO), also participated in the pilot 

project to foster communication and integrate the transportation planning and environmental review 

processes. 

The year-long pilot project was officially completed in January 2013. During the pilot project, the FRA 

held regional resource meetings and/or webinars with designated points of contact in April, June,

and October 2012, and a corridor-wide webinar was held in January 2013; most regional meetings

were also available as a webinar. The meetings were informal roundtables to discuss program 

elements such as the Study Area, program goals, preliminary components of the Purpose and Need, 

data collection results and the scoping process, and how best to coordinate with the agencies. The 

FRA informed agencies about the program’s status, involved them in the alternatives development 

process, and engaged the agencies in topic-specific impact assessment discussions. This process 

enabled the FRA to engage the agencies as partners both in the NEPA process and in the structuring 

of the future agency-coordination effort.

An achievement of the CEQ Pilot was the development, by the FRA and a group of federal agencies,

of a Statement of Principles that identifies an approach and protocols for future collaboration with 

federal agencies (Appendix F). The following federal agencies have concurred with the Statement of 

Principles:

4 Federal Railroad Administration

4 Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

4 National Marine Fisheries Service – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

4 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

4 U.S. Coast Guard
11. Agency and Public Involvement

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4 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

4 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

4 U.S. National Park Service 

11.4.7.2 Ongoing Coordination

Although the CEQ Pilot concluded in January 2013, the FRA continued to meet regularly with the 

involved federal and state resource and regulatory agencies. The pilot project established a 

foundation for ongoing agency coordination throughout NEC FUTURE and is intended to facilitate 

subsequent project-level environmental reviews. Table 11-4 lists these meetings.

Table 11-4: Regional Resource Meetings

Date Regional Resource Meeting

4/10/2012 Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Pilot Regional Resource meeting, North Region, Boston, 

MA

4/13/2012 CEQ Pilot Regional Resource meeting – Central Region, New York, NY

4/18/2012 CEQ Pilot Regional Resource meeting – South Region, Hanover, MD

6/19/2012 CEQ Pilot Regional Resource Meeting – South Region, Philadelphia, PA

6/26/2012 CEQ Pilot Regional Resource Meeting – North Region, Hartford, CT

6/28/2012 CEQ Pilot Regional Resource Meeting – Central Region, Trenton, NJ

10/16/2012 CEQ Pilot Regional Resource Meeting – South Region, Washington, D.C.

10/22/2012 CEQ Pilot Regional Resource Meeting – Central Region, New York, NY

10/23/2012 CEQ Pilot Regional Resource Meeting – North Region, Providence, RI

11/8/2012 CEQ meeting on CEQ Pilot – Washington, D.C.

1/11/2013 CEQ Review Meeting – Washington, D.C.

1/25/2013 CEQ Pilot Webinar for Resource Agencies

3/27/2013 Regional Resource and Regulatory Agency webinar

6/18/2013 Regional Resource and Regulatory Agency – North Region, Boston, MA

6/20/2013 Regional Resource and Regulatory Agency – Central Region, New York, NY

6/25/2013 Regional Resource and Regulatory Agency – South Region, Philadelphia, PA

12/3/2013 Resource and Regulatory Agency webinar – New York, NY and webinar

11/6/2014 Regional Resource and Regulatory Agency – Central Region, New York, NY

11/14/2014 Regional Resource and Regulatory Agency – North Region, Boston, MA

11/19/2014 Regional Resource and Regulatory Agency – South Region, Philadelphia, PA

Source: NEC FUTURE team, 2015

Through this agency coordination, the FRA established specific resource working groups to inform 

various aspects of the development of this Tier 1 Draft EIS. Additionally, the FRA created an 

Environmental TWG that convened to discuss specific resource areas being covered in this Tier 1

environmental analysis. The resource working groups coordinated with the Environmental TWG. The 

FRA requested the agencies to participate in select Environmental TWG meeting(s) to help develop 

resource-specific impact assessment methodologies and to discuss the appropriate Tier 1 EIS outputs 

versus what would be more appropriately addressed in future Tier 2 analyses. In addition, in July 

2015, the FRA conducted a series of technical briefings with multiple resource and regulatory 

agencies to discuss the treatment of specific resources in the Tier 1 Draft EIS. 
11. Agency and Public Involvement

Tier 1 Draft EIS Page | 11-13

11.4.8 Section 106 Consultation

The NEC FUTURE agency coordination process includes consultation with the Advisory Council on 

Historic Preservation (ACHP), SHPOs, and Government-to-Government consultation with Indian 

tribes, undertaken as part of the Section 106 review process. Section 106 of the National Historic 

Preservation Act of 1966 promotes the preservation, enhancement, and productive use of historic 

resources. It is administered through a review process that ensures historic properties and cultural 

resources are considered during the development of any federal project. The FRA has chosen to 

conduct the Section 106 process for NEC FUTURE concurrently with this Tier 1 Draft EIS process. 

The FRA initiated the Section 106 and Government-to-Government consultation process in June 

2012. Appendix G provides full details on the Section 106 process, including a listing of the FRA’s 

meetings with the ACHP, the SHPOs, and the Indian tribes. The consultation process has resulted in 

preparation of a draft Programmatic Agreement that establishes the phased process by which the 

FRA will complete the identification, evaluation, and assessment of effects on historic properties, 

including those with religious and cultural significance to tribal nations. The FRA also worked with the 

signatories of the draft Programmatic Agreement to identify consulting parties that will provide 

future input to the Section 106 process. Appendix G includes the draft Programmatic Agreement.

11.4.9 Section 4(f) Coordination

During the agency coordination process, the FRA met with representatives from the National Park 

Service (NPS), ACHP, and SHPOs. The FRA presented effects-assessment methodologies and 

preliminary findings of analysis to inform possible effects under Section 4(f). Coordination with NPS, 

ACHP, and SHPOs occurred at various points throughout the development of this Tier 1 Draft EIS as 

part of the Environmental TWG and various agency-specific briefings. Appendix E, Section E.16,

provides documentation of Section 4(f) coordination. 

11.4.10 Section 7 Coordination

The FRA met with representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and National 

Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to 

discuss the approach to conducting Section 7 consultation at the programmatic level for NEC FUTURE.

Additionally, the FRA presented ecological resource effects-assessment methodologies and 

preliminary findings as part of an Environmental TWG meeting. In August 2014, a meeting was held 

specifically to address Section 7 requirements for NEC FUTURE. Appendix G provides documentation 

of coordination with the USFWS, NMFS, and NOAA.

11.5 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT (BEYOND SCOPING)

In addition to the public scoping process conducted in 2012, the FRA used a variety of 

communications tools, meetings, workshops, and informal outreach activities to inform and engage 

the public and interested organizations in NEC FUTURE. 
11. Agency and Public Involvement

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11.5.1 Communication Tools

The FRA developed a series of communication tools to support the public outreach and 

environmental review process, which included a website, contact database, newsletters and fact 

sheets, media outreach, and social media.

11.5.1.1 Website

The FRA developed a website to serve as the primary portal for informing the public and stakeholders

about the program, as well as soliciting comments and questions about the program. Key technical 

reports, newsletters, and meeting materials are made available for download through the website.

The website also includes a searchable glossary of technical terms used on the site and in program 

reports, a translation feature (Google Translate), a Spanish page with summary-level information on 

the program, and links to the FRA’s social media (Facebook and Twitter).

The website was designed for compliance with Section 508 accessibility guidelines. In addition, it was 

designed in a format suitable for mobile devices, to accommodate persons who primarily access the 

internet through cell phones as well as travelers. The website is updated frequently to provide current 

information.

As of June 2015, the website has had 29,000 unique visitors, 45,000 sessions (or periods that a user 

is actively engaged), and 133,000 page views. Of these sessions, 64 percent were first-time visits. The 

highest website activity occurred in April 2013, October 2013, and the fall of 2014. These dates 

correspond with media publicity surrounding public outreach events and the release of project 

reports.

11.5.1.2 Contact Database

A master contact database was created and updated throughout the project. As of June 2015, the email contact list contains over 3,500 contacts, and over 160 comments have been submitted through 

the website. The comments range from general comments about the planning process, geographic 

specific comments, and comments by rail riders about specific travel needs and preferences. All 

comments are relayed to the technical team for consideration.

11.5.1.3 Newsletters and Fact Sheet

The FRA created a series of newsletters to keep stakeholders and the public up-to-date on project 

developments and solicit input. The newsletters were electronically distributed to all contacts on the 

e-mail contact list and were also used in hard-copy mailings and distributed at meetings. Table 11-5

presents the newsletters that were developed to coincide with key milestones. Appendix F presents 

copies of the newsletters. In addition to the newsletters, an illustrated fact sheet was prepared for 

distribution at meetings, program briefings, and via the website. The fact sheet provided an overview 

of NEC FUTURE and was updated periodically.
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Table 11-5: Newsletters

Date Articles

#1: Summer 2012 Study Advances, What Alternatives will NEC FUTURE study?, NEC FUTURE Scoping Meetings 

Schedule, Stay Informed, What’s Next?

#2: Winter 2013

A Public Dialogue Begins: Scoping Highlights, Scoping Themes, December Dialogues –

Continuing the Discussion, Next Steps – Developing Alternatives for NEC FUTURE, 

Questions & Answers

#3: Spring 2013

NEC FUTURE Station Pop-Up Tour Travels the Corridor, Preliminary Alternatives Report 

Identifies Options for the NEC FUTURE, April Dialogues Focusing on Alternatives for the 

NEC, FRA Perspective, Follow NEC FUTURE on Facebook

#4: Fall 2014 Household Travel Survey to Inform NEC FUTURE, Update on Alternatives Development, 

Environmental Review Process – A Programmatic Approach 

#5: Summer 2015 Alternatives Evaluation Moving Forward; Tier 1 EIS Alternatives Introduced at Public Open 

Houses; Economic Development Workshops Inform Analysis

Source: NEC FUTURE team, 2015

11.5.1.4 Media Outreach

Media outreach was performed at key project milestones. During Scoping, the FRA prepared media 

advisory materials and responded to requests for interviews. In 2013, with the release of the 

Preliminary Alternatives Report, a second media advisory was prepared, along with a press briefing. 

For the fall 2014 public open house meetings, the FRA also prepared a media advisory that was widely 

distributed. In addition, newspaper and other media articles that feature NEC FUTURE are listed on 

the project website.

11.5.1.5 Social Media

The FRA utilized both Facebook and Twitter to post and tweet before and during Scoping, at the 

release of the Preliminary Alternatives Report in April 2013, and to publicize various outreach events 

described below, including the rail station outreach described in Section 11.5.4 and the fall 2014 

public open houses. In addition, a short video describing the program was developed and is available 

on the FRA’s YouTube channel.

11.5.2 Regional Public Workshops

Subsequent to Scoping, the FRA held two sets of regional public workshops to provide an opportunity 

for informal discussion and feedback and to further inform the alternatives development process.

The first set of workshops took place in December 2012 and the second set took place in April 2013. 

Each set of workshops included one session in each of the three program regions 

(North/South/Central). The FRA varied the locations for the second set of workshops, to provide the 

opportunity for convenient access for people in other areas of the corridor. 

The FRA held the workshops between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. An hour-long webinar version of the 

workshop was also offered each time, for the convenience of those unable to attend. The workshops 

were open to all, but pre-registration was required. Publicity consisted of e-mail invitations to the 

program contact list and social media postings.
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11.5.2.1 December Dialogues

In December 2012, the FRA hosted the December Dialogues workshops (Table 11-6). Two webinars 

were also offered to accommodate interested persons unable to travel to one of the workshop sites. 

These took place during the afternoon and evening of December 6.

Table 11-6: December Dialogues Workshops Locations

Date Region City Location

12/3/2012 North Boston, MA Massachusetts State 

Transportation Building

10 Park Plaza

12/4/2012 South New York, NY Moynihan Station

380 West 33rd Street

12/5/2012 Central Philadelphia, PA SEPTA

1234 Market Street

12/6/2012; 3 PM n/a Webinar #1 n/a

12/6/2012; 6 PM n/a Webinar #2 n/a

Source: NEC FUTURE team, 2015

A total of 142 people participated. The December Dialogues consisted of a presentation, facilitated 

break-out groups, and general discussion. In the first exercise, participants were asked to review a 

list of goals drawn from the preliminary Purpose and Need Statement, as well as potential additions 

or refinements to those goals based on scoping comments. There was general agreement at each 

location with the initial set of goals and the proposed refinements, with discussion of potential 

additions to the list and suggestions for specific ways of applying the goals. Common themes across 

locations included the following:

4 Improve connections between commuter and Intercity rail, as well as between NEC rail services 

and other modes, including buses and airports.

4 Begin by improving the current system to a state of good repair. Only after that is done should 

any expansion of service occur.

4 The plan should be cost effective and affordable—both affordable to build, maintain, and operate 

and affordable for customers.

4 The environmental goalsshould address emerging threats such as climate change and rising tides. 

4 Reduce trip time, connect and grow downtowns and foster transit-oriented development.

4 Seek to increase mode share and grow rail ridership.

Input from this exercise was used to further develop the program goals.

The second exercise focused on defining the passenger rail service characteristics most important to 

the participants (i.e., to a typical commuter, intercity traveler, or downtown/business 

representative). In all locations, frequency and reliability were viewed as the most important service 

characteristics from the perspective of rail commuters and downtown business interests, while travel 

time was most important from the intercity traveler perspective. When representing themselves or 
11. Agency and Public Involvement

Tier 1 Draft EIS Page | 11-17

their organizations, the highest-ranked service characteristics were travel time, reliability, and 

frequency, in that order.

The results of the December Dialogues underscored the importance of providing a range of 

investment scenarios for the NEC, as well as a flexible approach to the use of additional railroad 

capacity, allowing operators to respond to changing needs.

11.5.2.2 April Dialogues

In April 2013, the FRA hosted another set of regional workshops using a similar format (Table 11-7).

Table 11-7: April Dialogues Workshops Locations

Date Region City Location

4/8/2013 North New Haven, CT Gateway Community College

20 Church Street

4/9/2013 Central Newark, NJ NJTPA

One Newark Center

4/10/2013 South Washington, D.C. Hall of States

444 North Capitol Street

4/18/2013 n/a Webinar n/a

Source: NEC FUTURE team, 2015

A total of 193 people participated. The April Dialogues began with a presentation followed by 

facilitated exercises that allowed participants to provide feedback on the Preliminary Alternatives 

(including the different service options, program levels, and route options entailed) and the 

evaluation criteria. 

For the April Dialogues overall, the service option that focused on frequency emerged as the 

preferred choice, with faster service a second choice. Frequency was perceived as more important 

than speed across most groups in New Haven and Washington, D.C., while faster service was noted 

as a higher priority for most of the groups in Newark. In contrast, there was little interest in the service 

option emphasizing one-seat rides. Many participants expressed a willingness to transfer between 

local and express services if convenient cross-platform transfers were provided. 

At each workshop, participants stressed the importance of connectivity between rail services and 

between rail and other modes. Participants varied in their preference of program levels, with the 

strongest support for Program Levels C and D and some support for a “B/C” range. See Appendix B, 

Preliminary Alternatives Report, for additional information on program levels. No groups in any 

location preferred Program Level A as an end state. However, many expressed support for an 

incremental “fix it first” approach that would start with the Program Level A improvements.

While most groups favored a second spine alternative (Program Level D), they had divergent views 

on which route option was preferable. Table 11-8 summarizes the feedback received on the 

Preliminary Alternatives’ routes.

Concerning evaluation criteria, the most preferred criteria across the workshops as a whole were 

ridership, followed by economic development and sustainability, cost, and service effectiveness. 
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Table 11-8: Summary of Feedback on Preliminary Alternative Routes at April Dialogues, 

2013

Program 

Level

Preliminary 

Alternative Potential Advantages Potential Disadvantages

A - C 1–11 Incremental benefits Not enough additional service or capacity

D 12 High-speed service Difficult to construct

Coastal vulnerability

13 High-speed service

Avoids coastal areas

Environmental impacts of greenfield portions

Bypasses New Haven

14 High-speed service

Service to Long Island

Connects economic 

activity centers

Environmental impacts of greenfield portions

Bypasses Providence 

Long Island route not viable

15 High-speed service

Service to Long Island 

Environmental impacts of greenfield portions 

Delmarva route not viable from market or 

environmental perspective

Bypasses New Haven, Baltimore and Providence

Long Island route not viable 

Too many stops in Connecticut 

Source: NEC FUTURE team, 2015

The results of the April Dialogues confirmed the importance of preserving a range of program levels 

in this Tier 1 Draft EIS, reflecting different visions for the future of the NEC. They also confirmed the 

importance of evaluating multiple route options, as the FRA has done.

11.5.3 Public Open Houses

The FRA hosted a series of public open house meetings for NEC FUTURE in November 2014. The 

purpose of these meetings was to introduce the Action Alternatives, give participants a better 

understanding of what to expect from a Tier 1 level of analysis, and provide an informal opportunity 

for the public to learn about the program, ask questions, and provide comments.

An open house meeting was held in each of the eight NEC states and Washington, D.C. Each meeting 

followed the same format, consisting of a series of display stations without a formal presentation. 

NEC FUTURE staff members were on hand to talk with participants and answer questions. The open 

houses took place 4:00–7:00 p.m. at the locations shown in Table 11-9.

A total of 377 participants attended the nine meetings. Attendees included a mix of rail riders and 

advocates, agency and city government representatives, real estate and development organizations, 

university students, and elected officials. 

Meeting materials consisted of a set of 15 display boards and two videos. The FRA organized the 

display boards into stations focused on an overview of the program, preliminary information on the 

Action Alternatives, and the environmental review process. A final “exit” station provided 

information on next steps and public involvement, including ways of staying involved. 
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Table 11-9: Public Open House Locations

Date City Location

11/5/2014 New York, NY Hotel Pennsylvania, 401 7th Avenue

11/6/2014 Newark, NJ North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, One Newark Center

11/10/2014 New Haven, CT Gateway Community College, 20 Church Street

11/12/2014 Providence, RI Rhode Island Convention Center, One Sabin Street

11/13/2014 Boston, MA Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston Street

11/17/2014 Washington, D.C. Hall of States, 444 North Capitol Street

11/18/2014 Baltimore, MD University of Baltimore Student Center, 21 Mt. Royal Avenue

11/19/2014 Philadelphia, PA Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Authority Board Room Complex, 

1234 Market Street

11/20/2014 Wilmington, DE Delaware Technical Community College, 333 Shipley Street

Source: NEC FUTURE team, 2015

In addition to the display boards, the FRA provided two short video loops—an introductory video on 

the program and an animation of existing train movements on the NEC. The introductory video 

featured footage of the NEC and statements from the FRA Administrator and Program Manager. The 

animation illustrated the high volume and mix of trains using the NEC today. In addition to these 

materials, comment cards and desk copies of technical reports were available. Participants were also 

asked to fill out a brief survey at the exit station with questions about their use of the NEC and their 

satisfaction with the information provided at the meeting.

Publicity for the meetings included comprehensive media outreach by the FRA, e-mail notifications 

to the NEC FUTURE e-mail list, social media messaging, a direct mail brochure, station-based 

outreach, and placement of posters in public locations near meeting venues. The FRA also conducted 

targeted outreach to EJ communities, including a mailing to EJ organizations and local officials, media 

advisories to minority media outlets, and distribution of meeting information through MPO partners. 

The station-based outreach included placement of over 100 publicity posters at selected Amtrak and 

commuter rail stations. The targeted stations included 22 Amtrak stations (including selected stations 

on the Keystone and Empire corridors and Hartford and Springfield), eight NJ TRANSIT stations, and 

additional commuter rail stations selected by Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC), Southeast 

Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), and MTA-Long Island Rail Road. In addition, the FRA 

provided staffed “pop-up” information booths at the Hartford, CT, and Ronkonkoma, NY, stations, 

with information on the program and the Connecticut and New York open house meetings, 

respectively. 

While discussion topics varied by location, common themes included the following:

4 The need to fix the existing NEC before expanding 

4 The importance of freight 

4 Questions about the feasibility of a Long Island route

4 Relationship of NEC FUTURE to specific projects including the Baltimore and Potomac (B&P)

Tunnel, Amtrak’s Gateway initiative, New Haven-Hartford-Springfield rail, and plans for rail 

service from Washington, D.C., to Richmond, VA
11. Agency and Public Involvement

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4 Cost, phasing (what improvements would be done when), and the difference between the Tier 1 

and Tier 2 phases of the NEPA process

4 The ability to modify or combine elements of more than one alternative

4 The importance of airport connections

4 Fare prices and affordability, particularly compared to intercity bus service

4 Climate change

4 The importance of the NEC to the economy

4 The potential for transit-oriented development

4 The importance of station areas and stations as destinations

4 Opportunity for seamless ticketing 

4 The need to accommodate bikes on board

4 The travel patterns of the Millennial generation, with implications for rail station access modes

Many of these concerns were similar to those raised in previous meetings and in scoping testimony.

11.5.4 Rail Station Outreach

The FRA conducted outreach activities targeting engagement with rail riders at 16 NEC stations over 

three weeks in April and May 2013. The station “pop-up” tour used a portable kiosk and handout to 

promote awareness among existing riders and encourage their involvement in NEC FUTURE. The FRA 

selected stations to engage riders with a variety of trip purposes, including intercity travelers and 

commuters. 

The kiosk featured graphic displays with information on the Study Area, schedule, and alternatives 

development process. The FRA was on hand to share information and respond to questions from 

persons who stopped by the kiosk. Beginning at 7:00 a.m. each day, the tour was designed to interact 

with a wide range of passengers, including commuters traveling through the stations, and to 

encourage them to visit the project website. The tour reached over 12,000 rail passengers, including 

commuters and intercity travelers of all ages. The FRA’s social media accounts were regularly updated 

throughout the tour. Table 11-10 shows the locations included in the tour.

A similar activity was conducted in October 2014 to provide publicity at two stations off the existing 

NEC: Ronkonkoma, NY, and Hartford, CT. In addition, publicity posters describing NEC FUTURE and 

opportunities for public involvement were placed in approximately 40 rail stations prior to the 

November 2014 public open houses. Riders provided comments on a range of topics related to 

existing service and future options for the NEC, including concerns about the condition of existing 

infrastructure, equipment and stations; reliability; customer service; connections and schedule 

coordination, and stopping patterns (including suggestions about city pairs and ideas for new express 

services).

Many riders expressed concern about the timing of proposed improvements (with several stating 

that 2040 is too long to wait for improvements). Others volunteered information on their travel 
11. Agency and Public Involvement

Tier 1 Draft EIS Page | 11-21

patterns, including the factors affecting their choice of the train and the particular stations and 

services used. This information was relayed to the FRA for consideration in the development of the 

Action Alternatives.

Table 11-10: Station Pop-Up Appearances

Date Station

4/22/2013 Washington, D.C. 

4/23/2013 Baltimore, MD

4/24/2013 Wilmington, DE

4/25/2013 Philadelphia, PA

4/26/2013 Trenton, NJ

4/29/2013 Hamilton, NJ

4/30/2013 Newark, NJ

5/1/2013 New York, NY

5/2/2013 New York, NY

5/3/2013 Stamford, CT

5/6/2013 Bridgeport, CT

5/7/2013 New Haven, CT

5/8/2013 Old Saybrook, CT

5/9/2013 Providence, MA

5/10/2013 Route 128, MA

5/11/2013 Boston, MA

10/22/2014 Ronkonkoma, NY

10/31/2014 Hartford, CT

Source: NEC FUTURE team, 2015

11.6 OTHER STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, BRIEFINGS, AND PRESENTATIONS

In addition to the coordination meetings outlined in Section 11.4, the FRA held a variety of meetings 

and briefings throughout the project to share information on the project and obtain input or feedback 

on study elements or findings, as well as insight and guidance from stakeholders to inform the study

process.

11.6.1 Economic Development Workshops

In October 2014, the FRA conducted a series of invitational workshops in major markets along the 

NEC to help inform the economic effects assessment described in Chapter 6. Table 11-11 lists the 

nine locations where the workshops were held and the market areas discussed at each location.

Private developers, local planners, economic development professionals, and academic institutions

were invited to the workshops to help understand the key factors that affect station area 

development, broader economic development, and barriers to development.
11. Agency and Public Involvement

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Table 11-11: Economic Development Workshop Locations

Date Location Markets Discussed

10/1/2014 Arlington, VA Washington, D.C. and suburban Maryland and Virginia

10/2/2014 Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia, Harrisburg, PA, and Wilmington, DE

10/3/2014 Baltimore, MD Baltimore and other Maryland markets

10/8/2014 New York, NY New York City (five boroughs)

10/14/2014 Boston, MA Boston, MA and Providence, RI

10/15//2014 Rocky Hill, CT New Haven and Hartford, CT and Springfield, MA

10/16/2014 Stamford, CT Westchester, NY, and Southern Connecticut

10/17/2014 Newark, NJ New Jersey

10/30/2014 Farmingdale, NY Long Island 

8/4/2015 Webinar Corridor-wide

Source: NEC FUTURE team, 2015

The workshops provided participants with an overview of NEC FUTURE along with information about 

the No Action and Action Alternatives. Stakeholders provided valuable insights and information for 

their respective markets concerning the potential for localized station area development, 

agglomeration/productivity impacts, and effects on the labor market. Qualitative information from 

the workshops was used to identify economic development evaluation factors for use in comparing 

alternatives, and helped to inform the economic effects assessment described in Chapter 6.

All workshop conversations explored the tradeoffs among travel speed, connectivity, reliability, and 

frequency of service. Participants uniformly valued reliability of service. Participants in the southern 

and central parts of the corridor indicated that speed was secondary, and that frequency of service 

and connectivity to target markets were the most important qualities needed for enhanced rail 

service to spur development in their communities. In the northern portion of the corridor, however, 

speed was valued more highly. Participants indicated that there was a threshold effect regarding the 

prioritization of speed and frequency—faster travel speeds were more important up to the point 

where they permitted a Boston to New York day trip. Once that speed was attained, additional 

frequencies and types of service became more important, as seen in responses in the southern 

portion of the corridor.

Collectively, the workshop discussions highlight some of the major factors that will influence station 

area development, agglomeration, and labor market outcomes. Based on these factors, a series of 

evaluation factors was developed for use in a qualitative ranking of the alternatives. 

The FRA prepared a document4 that summarizes the information, ideas, and perspectives shared

during the workshops. In addition, the FRA conducted a webinar to review the summary document 

with stakeholders.

11.6.2 Presentations to Interested Organizations

The FRA provided presentations on NEC FUTURE for a variety of stakeholder organizations, as well as 

at universities and conferences. Table 11-12 lists these presentations.

 

4 Economic Development Workshops Summary, July 2015, www.necfuture.com 
11. Agency and Public Involvement

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Table 11-12: Presentations to Interested Organizations 

Date Organizational Briefing

3/12/2012 Regional Plan Association (RPA) Business Alliance for Northeast Mobility, Philadelphia, PA

11/13/2012 RPA Business Alliance for Northeast Mobility, New Haven, CT

1/24/2013 Women’s Transportation Seminar, Philadelphia Chapter, Philadelphia, PA

2/4/2013 United South and Eastern Tribes, USET Impact Week, Arlington, VA

3/16/2013 National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP), VA/D.C./MD Region, Washington, D.C.

4/6/2013 NARP Mid-Atlantic Region, Harrisburg, PA

4/6/2013 NARP New England Region, Portland, ME

4/13/2013 NJ Association of Rail Passengers, Bordentown, NJ

4/17/2013 NJ TransAction, Atlantic City, NJ

5/12/2013 Central Jersey Forum, Hillsborough, NJ

6/5/2013 American Public Transit Association, Philadelphia, PA

6/13/2013 Virginia High Speed Rail Association, Richmond, VA

6/24/2013 National Association of Regional Councils, Philadelphia, PA

8/12/2013 Raritan Valley Coalition, Somerville, NJ

10/30/2013 North American Strategic Infrastructure Leadership Forum, Washington, D.C.

11/8/2013 American Planning Association - New York Metro Chapter

1/13/2014 Transportation Research Board, Public Involvement Poster Session, Washington, D.C.

1/13/2014 Transportation Research Board, Committee on Intercity Rail, Washington, D.C.

1/15/2014 Presentation for SOKA University visiting students, New York, NY

2/25/2014 U.S. High-Speed Rail Association, Washington, D.C.

2/22/2014 Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD

4/29/2014 American Planning Association National Planning Conference, Atlanta, Georgia

6/17/2014 American Public Transit Association, Montreal, Canada

10/28/2014 American Planning Association – Delaware/Maryland Chapter Conference, Newark, DE

1/19/2015 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C.

4/21/2015 NJ TransAction, Atlantic City, NJ

5/21/2015 Women’s Transportation Seminar Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL

6/22/2015 American Public Transit Association, Salt Lake City, UT

Source: NEC FUTURE team, 2015

11.7 TARGETED OUTREACH TO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE POPULATIONS

The NEC FUTURE public involvement process includes targeted outreach to low-income and minority 

populations, which have historically been under-represented in transportation decision-making. EJ

populations5 are a significant component of the overall Study Area population, which includes over 

20 million minority residents and over 5 million low-income residents. 

Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and 

Low-Income Populations. E.O. 12898, issued on February 11, 1994, promotes nondiscrimination in 

 

5 U.S. DOT Environmental Justice Order 5610.2(a), issued on May 2, 2012, defines minority individuals as persons 

belonging to one of the following groups: American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian American, Native Hawaiian or 

Other Pacific Islander, Black (not of Hispanic Origin) and Hispanic or Latino. It defined low-income individuals as 

persons whose household income is at or below the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty 

guidelines.
11. Agency and Public Involvement

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federal programs affecting human health and the environment, and requires that minority and lowincome populations be provided access to public information and an opportunity to participate in 

matters relating to the environment. U.S. DOT released an updated Environmental Justice Order 

5610.2(a) on May 2, 2012, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to EJ principles. 

The FRA has followed inclusive public involvement practices throughout NEC FUTURE such as holding 

all public meetings in transit-accessible locations, providing notices in minority media, placing all 

meeting materials online and encouraging questions and comments through the website, utilizing 

visualization graphics to explain key concepts, and providing opportunities for informal interaction 

outside of traditional meetings. In addition, the program website includes a translation feature 

(Google Translate) and is designed in a mobile-friendly format, for convenient use by persons who 

rely on cell phones for internet access. The FRA translated selected materials into Spanish, which was 

identified as the language spoken by the largest number of persons with limited English proficiency 

along the existing NEC and the routes of the Action Alternatives.

Beyond these basic practices, to assist in understanding and communicating with the varied EJ 

populations present in the Study Area, the FRA provided information to and encouraged involvement 

in the program by organizations that represent minority and low-income communities in each state 

and Washington, D.C. The FRA also provided information on the program to chief elected officials in 

jurisdictions with EJ population concentrations as part of the outreach to local officials described in 

Section 11.4.5. 

4 The FRA developed an EJ contact list for NEC FUTURE, including organizations representing lowincome and minority persons in each state and Washington, D.C., in areas along the existing NEC. 

The list was expanded with additional contacts gained through research and referrals, as well as 

organizations serving areas along the Representative Routes for this Tier 1 Draft EIS, once these 

were defined. Periodic e-mail alerts, including meeting invitations, updates, and e-newsletters 

were sent to these organizations, which are listed in Appendix F. 

4 During the Scoping process described in Section 11.3, the FRA placed display advertisements in 

minority media outlets (in English and Spanish as appropriate), as detailed in the Scoping 

Summary (Appendix F, Agency and Public Involvement). E-mail notices about the scoping process 

and scoping meetings were sent to organizations on the EJ contact list.

4 For the public open houses in November 2014 (described in Section 11.5.3), a more extensive 

targeted outreach process was conducted. This included the following elements:

– Prior to the open houses, a brochure was mailed to EJ organizations and local officials 

representing EJ populations along the NEC. The brochure provided background on the 

program and its potential significance for communities, an invitation to the open houses, and 

information on the public involvement process and other ways of participating in 

NEC FUTURE. 

– The FRA solicited assistance from MPOs in the Study Area to share EJ contact lists and/or help 

distribute meeting information through their EJ and general distribution lists, social networks,

and websites. 
11. Agency and Public Involvement

Tier 1 Draft EIS Page | 11-25

– Open-house publicity materials, including rail station posters and electronic flyers, referred 

Spanish-speaking readers to meeting information in Spanish on the program website, and a 

Spanish-speaking staff person was present at each meeting.

– The FRA circulated a media advisory to minority media outlets.

4 While not targeting EJ populations specifically, the FRA designed the rail station outreach 

described in Section 11.4.4 to be inclusive of all segments of the population, and followed the 

principle of going directly to people who might not otherwise learn about the program or attend 

a meeting. During the station outreach, the FRA engaged in discussions with thousands of 

passengers from widely diverse backgrounds. 

4 A Spanish language web page was added to the website with background information on the 

program, including a Spanish-subtitled version of the program video.

11.8 DOCUMENTATION

Along with engaging the public for better decision-making, one of the vital functions of a public 

involvement program is to provide a fully documented project record of how and why decisions were 

made. To this end, the agency and public involvement process and the topics raised by stakeholders 

and the public have been documented and summarized throughout NEC FUTURE. Ideas and concerns 

raised by the public have been shared with the FRA to be appropriately integrated into the planning 

and environmental review process. In addition to the discussion in this chapter, more information on 

how the FRA has addressed stakeholder input in the preparation of this Tier 1 Draft EIS can be found 

in the Scoping Summary (Appendix F, Agency and Public Involvement) and in Chapter 4, Alternatives 

Considered.