HRR seeks support for three-town rail line upgrades

Millions of dollars in transportation grant funds could be coming into the area early next year. They would be used to upgrade the rail line and crossings in North Canaan, Cornwall and Kent.Colin Pease, vice president of special projects for the North Canaan-based Housatonic Railroad Company (HRR), said there will be a lot of competition for the funding, with about 200 applicants expected. His company plans to apply for $10-12 million, based on average awards in an initial grant round.The Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Discretionary Grant program was aimed at investing more than $2 billion in transportation infrastructure, including roads, public transit, ports and rail lines.This second round, or TIGER II, program has nearly $527 million available for capital projects that are multi-jurisdictional, offer multiple benefits and are difficult to fund under existing programs. Of that, $140 million is earmarked for rural areas. Grants would cover 80 percent of costs.Pease and HRR President John Hanlon came to the Aug. 1 Board of Selectmen meeting in North Canaan to offer an overview of plans, and seek the assistance of the town’s Streetscape Committee, which has plans that would apply to the proposed railroad project, such as moving utility poles in the town center.The application has to be submitted by a town or government agency. Pease said they believe the Northwestern Connecticut Council of Governments (COG), which represents nine towns, is the best applicant. Housatonic believes it has a leg up on several fronts.It had already laid the groundwork for major rail line improvements in its effort toward re-establishing passenger service on the Berkshire line. A marketing survey was conducted with very positive results. It would improve access to rail shipping for the region’s two largest shippers and employers.It would complete drainage issues the state has long attempted to successfully address.It would conceivably enhance the interface between the railroad and the towns it impacts.HRR plans to contribute six miles of new rail, worth about $1 million, to the project. The need is certainly there, with some of the rails dating back to the railroad’s beginnings in the 1870s.All of the work would take place on property owned by the state, which HRR leases.“[North] Canaan would be the focal point for a comprehensive improvement project that would extend into Cornwall and Kent,” Pease said. “We see this as a rail improvement/community development type project.”Plan specifics include a complete rebuilding of three miles — rails, ties and surfacing — in North Canaan, as well as two passing sidings and the oldest rail — the spur to Specialty Minerals.Ten crossings will get new or upgraded warning gates and lights, resulting in all surface crossings on town and state roads having that highest level of protection. Surfacing at those crossings will be renewed.Drainage work would be done not only in the center of North Canaan but along the corridor, along with sightline improvements.The project would address street lighting and sidewalks near rail crossings in North Canaan, and install a retaining wall behind Railroad Street businesses. Traffic flow into Canaan Union Station will be redesigned. These areas are where the Streetscape Committee can offer valuable advice.In Cornwall, four miles of welded rail, ties and surfacing will be installed. Another two miles will be installed in Kent.All of the rail upgrades will meet passenger service standards.“On the engineering side,” Hanlon said, “all the crossings, because of their close proximity to each other, have to communicate with each other. There is a real synergy for us in doing it comprehensively.”The application deadline is Oct. 3. The selection process is expected to take about three months; it is a relatively quick process. State and federal authorities have until the end of October to complete an initial review of applications.North Canaan First Selectman Doug Humes noted a TIGER grant applied for through COG was used for the recent improvements to a bridge on Lower Road. “You’re shovel-ready as far as moving utility poles and upgrading the crossings,” Humes said.An upgrade to the traffic signals to coordinate with the planned installation of gates and lights at the North Canaan main crossing has already been completed by the state Department of Transportation in conjunction with the Streetscape project. The town is putting $1 million (received in two grants) toward a wide variety of projects.Hanlon agreed that having projects predesigned is a critical advantage in getting a grant.“This would all benefit our plans for passenger service. It is a subset of what we’ve already done. We’re way up on the learning curve.”