Category: News

Previsich: 'We achieved great things in 2014'

February 25, 2015 By John Previsich, SMART Transportation Division President – On behalf of the officers and staff of the SMART Transportation Division, I will take this opportunity to thank our members and their families for all of their efforts in 2014 and to extend our best wishes for a sa [...]

Utah bill to regulate rail crew vans draws fans, foes

February 24, 2015 SALT LAKE CITY – Legislation to give the Utah Department of Transportation oversight of companies entrusted with transporting railroad crews between jobs barely advanced to a third Senate reading with a 15-12 vote. At issue in SB127 is a loophole in the law that does not requ [...]

Tags rail crew vans, S.B. 127, Utah

Railroad Retirement explain survivor benefits

February 24, 2015 Monthly benefits may be payable under the Railroad Retirement Act to the surviving widow(er), children, and certain other dependents of a railroad employee if the employee was “insured” under that act at the time of death. Lump-sum death benefits may also be payable to qualif [...]

Tags Railroad Retirement Board, RRB, survivor benefits

Metrolink train hits truck, derails in Calif.

February 24, 2015 A Metrolink train derailed early Tuesday, Feb. 24, in Oxnard, Calif., after slamming into a truck that was in flames. Twenty-eight people were injured, four critically. The driver of the truck fled the scene and was taken into custody, officials said. The train was going 79 m [...]

Tags derailment, Los Angeles, Metrolink

DOT's Foox

February 20, 2015

“Extraordinary” Session in WI Legislature Will Take Up Right To Work for less Bill

February 20, 2015 Republican leaders in Wisconsin are fast-tracking right-to-work for less legislation and Gov. Scott Walker’s spokeswoman said Friday he would sign the measure, despite refusing to say whether he would do so in his re-election campaign last year. Senate Majority Leader S [...]

Nebraskans favor two-person rail crews, poll shows

February 14, 2015 LINCOLN, Neb. – A union that represents railroaders says its recent survey of Nebraskans shows that more than 80 percent support requiring two-person crews on freight trains. “Because of the potential catastrophic tragedy that would result from a train accident of any nature, [...]

Tags Bob Borgeson, Nebraska, two-person rail crews

House committee approves Amtrak funding legislation

February 13, 2015 The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Feb. 12 unanimously approved bipartisan legislation that improves the infrastructure, reduces costs, creates greater accountability and transparency, leverages private sector resources, and accelerates project delivery for Amtra [...]

Tags Amtrak, passenger rail, Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015, PRRIA, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

FMCSA starts committee to update bus driver training

February 13, 2015 WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today announced the formation of a 26-member advisory committee that is tasked with updating classroom and new behind-the-wheel training requirements for professional truc [...]

SEPTA bus operators ink new two-year agreement

February 12, 2015 Members of the SMART Transportation Division employed by Southeastern Pennsylvania Metropolitan Transportation Authority ratified Jan. 11 a 2.5-year agreement with the carrier. The contract, which is retroactive to April 1, 2014, and extends until Nov. 18, 2016, covers bus op [...]

Tags Anthony Petty, Brian Caldwell, bus, Calvin Studivant, Curtis Fulmore, Dave Stinsman, Eric Goodwin, SEPTA, Southeastern Pennsylvania Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Waverly Harris