New Haven upset with Amtrak project

New Haven, Conn. (WTNH) - There is a showdown brewing between the city of New Haven and Amtrak over a construction project. 

People living in the Fair Haven neighborhood have been complaining about the noise and harsh lighting coming from a Amtrak construction site. Amtrak is doing some work at Russell Street and East Grand Avenue. The city says workers put up a fence without permission and haven't taken it down despite a request from the city.

Residents say all the noise is keeping them up all night.

"The noise is unbearable all night long, from approximately 7:30pm to four or five in the morning every night. Heavy machinery, men yelling back and forth to each other, trying to communicate across the tracks," said Steve Ives of New Haven.

Residents say it began with Amtrak cutting down trees on hills along the tracks, but they say that caused rock slides down onto the tracks, and that meant building a new retaining wall to stop the rocks. Amtrak says the work has to be done at night to avoid disruptions to Amtrak and Shoreline East train service, but doing it at night means putting up bright lights that shine into people's windows, making it even harder to sleep.

Amtrak also put up this fence and guardrail to protect the track, but they put it on city property, right where the city wanted to build a sidewalk. Elected officials say even they can't get answers from the railroad.

The mayor is now involved, as is the Board of Aldermen and Rep. Rosa DeLauro.

"And what we've been asking them is one: explain what they're doing and two: work with us on times of days and the manner in which you conduct the business," Mayor John DeStefano said.

 Amtrak responded in a written statement: 

Amtrak apologizes for any inconvenience as a result of the rock stabilization work currently underway in New Haven. The project was unanticipated and unplanned and is being conducted as a pre-cautionary measure. Unfortunately, this work must be conducted during nighttime hours to avoid disruption to both Amtrak and Shore Line East train service. Our engineering department has taken steps to mitigate the noise and light issues associated with the project, utilizing state-of -the–art equipment to accomplish this goal. We will continue to communicate with local elected officials and the state of Connecticut concerning this project in an effort to keep residents informed of our progress.