Overview
This report documents the first phase of the NEROps study, which investigated the regional rail transportation network in New York State, New England, and Atlantic
Canada as a system and identified the major historical factors and emerging trends that are impacting the efficiency of the system today and will continue to impact the ability of the region’s freight and passenger railroads to attract additional traffic. Subsequent phases will entail the identification of specific projects, strategies, and initiatives that will
allow the Northeastern states and the I-95 Corridor Coalition to address specific systemwide issues and chokepoints that cross jurisdictional, interest, and financial
boundaries. By engaging rail stakeholders in the region, describing key trends and issues affecting freight and passenger rail in the Northeast, and identifying the high-level infrastructure,operational, and policy issues hindering effective freight and passenger rail service in the region, the results of this phase of the NEROps study provide a foundation that will facilitate and guide these future efforts.