Category: News

Common-sense fix for truck-train crashes rejected

March 25, 2015 RALEIGH, N.C. – America’s railroads want five more years to stop train wrecks using a high-tech system costing more than $15 billion. But experts tell The Associated Press that it won’t keep trains and trucks from crashing together unless both industries use a com [...]

Tags rail grade crossings

Mayors call on Congress to pass transportation bill

March 24, 2015 BOSTON – Led by Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) Vice President Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, mayors pledged March 23 to work together to urge Congress to move past parti [...]

Tags transit, transportation, U.S. Conference of Mayors

Illinois Attorney General Stands By Working Families, Defies Governor

March 23, 2015 Illinois attorney general Lisa Madigan has weighed in on right to work “for less” legislation that is being pushed by Governor Bruce Rauner allowing local governments to create “Right-to-Work” zones wile banning prevailing wages for residents working in those “zones.” In her [...]

Previsich: ‘It’s your union and it’s your future’

March 20, 2015 By John Previsich, SMART Transportation Division President – Today, people who work in a unionized environment are facing challenges unlike any that have come before. The current political climate is fostering attacks not only on organized labor, but also on the rights and e [...]

Tags 2014, John Previsich, regional meetings

Mo. State Legislative Board has new website

March 17, 2015 State Legislative Director Ken Menges reports that the Missouri Legislative Board has a new website at www.smartmoslb.org. Members can now stay up to date on issues affecting their jobs as well as issues affecting Missouri locals. Members can contact the board directly throug [...]

Tags Missouri State Legislative Board, website

Five ways energy is transforming U.S. railroads

March 17, 2015 U.S. railroads have not hauled so much crude oil since the short period at the dawn of the petroleum age, when John D. Rockefeller relied on trains to build his Standard Oil empire. But the long, black tanker trains are only the most visible way that the changing U.S. energy [...]

Tags energy, railroads

NTSB to hold forum on railroad trespassing

March 16, 2015 WASHINGTON – The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a public forum March 24-25 on the dangers of trespassing on the railroad right-of-way. While railroad tracks have long held a cultural resonance with Americans, featured in motion pictures, TV shows, music videos [...]

Tags National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB, trespassing

Oakland Old Rails Club planning April 12 dinner

March 13, 2015 The Oakland Old Rails Club is planning its annual dinner and get together for Sunday, April 12, 2015, at the Elios Family Restaurant at 260 Floresta Blvd., San Leandro, Calif. The event will begin at noon with a no-host bar, with dinner to be served at 1:00 p.m. There are thr [...]

Tags Oakland Old Rails

Former MTA chief expected to head Metrolink

March 13, 2015 The Metrolink commuter rail system’s board of directors on Friday is expected to hire Art Leahy, the former head of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, as the railroad’s chief executive officer. Leahy, 66, is a veteran transit official wh [...]

Tags Metrolink