My conductor went to the scoping meeting held this week, and says the plan was very interesting. One glaring problem with this, however:
The plan only calls for a rail intermodal facility. Just building the terminal won't necessarily mean they will come. Rail intermodal needs speed on its side to be effective, and beat out trucks. Traveling over Hell Gate Bridge and to Fresh Pond at 10MPH, with no direct connection at Pond (you have to stop and run around your train to go east), interchange with NYA and ppan to have a crew ready to go all increases the time to get to Pilgrim. If the plan included space for a bulk-transfer facility, NYA would have plenty of traffic there in no time. This was stated to DOT at the meeting, let's see if they listen.
Jay