Sen. Blumenthal: Amtrak Bypass Proposal Would 'Paralyze' Traffic In Connecticut Town

OLD SAYBROOK, Conn. (CBSNewYork)-- Residents of a Connecticut town near the Rhode Island border are strongly opposed to the idea of a long term rail fix plan and worry it will destroy the essence of their quiet community.

Old Saybrook, one of the more bucolic communities in Connecticut, faces the prospect of a 30-mile rail bypass, WCBS 880s' Fran Schneidau reported. It's on the drawing boards and proponents say there needs to be an investment in the rail infrastructure in the area near the border. Opponents argue that this is not the way to go about it. 

Senator Richard Blumenthal is among those strongly opposed.

"The plan envisioned by the Federal Railway Administration would take decades to complete. In the meantime, rail traffic might as well be paralyzed," he said.

However, the Federal Railroad Administration is trying to plan for a way to restore the rail line from Washington to Boston in order to accommodate millions of riders over the next decade.