Category: Legislation
New York two-person crew bill heads to governor for signing
The two-person crew bills introduced in New York state, Assembly Bill 1287B and Senate Bill 3953B, have passed both chambers of the state Legislature as of Tuesday, May 31. Both bills have been combined into Senate Bill 3953 and are now headed to the desk of Gov. Kathy Hochul [...]
Transportation bills limiting train length gain traction in Iowa
A pair of bills limiting train length have been introduced in the Iowa House and Senate and have gained some traction. House File 2339 and Senate File 2286 both contain language that would limit the length of any freight train to 8,500 feet. House File 278 (now renumbered as [...]
Union officers’ efforts yield better protections for N.J. transportation workers
SMART Transportation Division Bus Department Vice President Calvin Studivant and New Jersey State Legislative Director Ron Sabol spent a significant time brainstorming ways to protect members in Sabol’s state last year. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic had added even more pot [...]SMART Statement on Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework
Washington, DC—Today, the White House announced its support for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, a $1.2 trillion investment in physical infrastructure. In response, SMART issued the following statement. “Today’s announcement is an important breakthrough towards tackl [...]
The first 100 days: How the Biden-Harris Administration is winning for workers
“Strong unions built the great American middle class. Everything that defines what it means to live a good life and know you can take care of your family — the 40-hour workweek, paid leave, health care protections, a voice in your workplace — is because of workers who o [...]
AFL-CIO TTD issues blueprint for restoring intercity passenger transportation
As the COVID-19 pandemic raged across the nation, nearly all intercity passenger transportation ceased almost overnight. In 2020, air carriers ferried their fewest passengers in three decades, registering months with as much as 96% fewer boardings compared to the prior year. [...]
Key bills introduced that intend to boost transportation safety in North Carolina
Legislators in both the North Carolina state House and Senate have introduced bills to keep freight rail operations on the state’s more than 3,300 miles of track running safely and efficiently. A bus safety bill is also in the works in the state. H.B. 408 and S. 348 require a [...]