To The Editor:

Do you know about the train hold-up this past year and the hostages taken and still held? The railroad, not bandits, is the offending party.

This concerns the collapse of the Housatonic Railroad’s Pootatuck River crossing in Newtown back on August 18, 2024, that flooded residents’ homes, the Route 25 bridge, and covered the well field that is Newtown’s public water supply. The loss of the well field has resulted in restrictions on water usage and stopped new development in Newtown and Bethel and compromised firefighting capability for both. The ponding, silt and continued erosion is destroying the river’s fish breeding habitat downstream. The culvert debris and ponding have reduced capacity to manage flood water by an estimated 25-30% making the area more flood prone.

Early in the process, local, state, and federal officials, together with Aquarion Water Company and Housatonic Railroad, identified the necessary actions to restore the river and water supply. That was to lower the streambed to its original elevation and shore up the 50-foot embankments to stop further erosion and silting of the stream.

Congresswoman Hayes and Governor Lamont have indicated there is funding if given a executable plan. The Housatonic Railroad has rejected and blocked suggested plans by others without submitting its own for review. Faced with public safety concerns, Newtown and Aquarion are spending money on a temporary water supply arrangement instead of a permanent solution.

The writer believes Housatonic Railroad is pressuring taxpayers for $6 to 8 million to restore its collapsed river crossing, which served fewer than 150 freight railcars annually. The railroad denies their crossing failed and have stated repeatedly that they do not have the funds to do any repairs. If the economics do not work for the railroad to borrow or invest their own money, why should the taxpayer? Why should a Federally regulated railroad be allowed to use its government-granted right-of-way to hold our towns and residents hostage?

We need all levels of government to do the right thing and disarm the hostage taker and support development and execution of a plan to address the root cause so Newtown and Bethel can restore the water supply for public safety, support new housing and commerce, protect a beautiful river, plus most importantly enable flooded out residents to reside again safely in their homes. This action should have occurred ten months ago. As it was then, it is the right thing to do for ALL impacted parties.

Randy Walker

Newtown