Category: News
Rail ‘crew hauler’ safety measures expected to become law in state of Washington
On March 23, 2011, SMART TD member Dwight Hauck nearly died in a horrific crew transport van-train collision in a Kelso, Washington, rail yard that killed two other passengers and the driver. Hauck suffered permanent, debilitating injuries as a result of the crash. The incide [...]
Express Scripts – EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr® Auto-Injectors recall
Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for a life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) and access to this product is critical in the event of an emergency. Meridian Medical Technologies, a Pfizer company and Mylan’s manufacturing partner for EpiPen Auto-Injector [...]Pres. Trump’s proposal to store nuclear waste could resuscitate Yucca Mountain rail project
President Trump is requesting $120 million in his 2018 budget to restart the licensing process to store nuclear waste under Nevada’s Yucca Mountain. This could also mean a revival for a proposed rail line to the remote site. The project was first proposed in the 1980s b [...]Essential Air Service coming to an end?
In a report by Colorado Public Radio, the Essential Air Service (EAS) program is on the chopping block in Trump’s budget. EAS helps fund small airlines, like Great Lakes Airline, to provide service to smaller airports throughout the country. Without this funding, these [...]
Senators work to halt Trump’s Amtrak cuts after derailments rise in NYC
WASHINGTON – NewJersey.com reported that U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Robert Melendez wrote to the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on transportation, calling on committee leadership to secure federal funding for Amtrak and also for the Amtrak Gateway Project – [...]
House seeks funding for transit security in wake of Russia subway attack
After a subway attack in Russia this week, more than 80 representatives asked House appropriators to make sure that the Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) will be fully funded. Lawmakers said TSGP could face deep funding cuts under President Trump’s budget. “We [...]
Local 303 MOW members ratify new five-year contract
SMART Transportation Division-represented Maintenance of Way (MOW) employees of the Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad (a Genesee Wyoming property) have ratified a five-year contract. General Chairperson Steve Simpson and 1st Vice General Chairperson Scott Chelette ass [...]
Plan to link Alaska and Canada railways back on the table
JUNEAU, Alaska – According to an article posted by the Alaska News Dispatch, former Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski has been appointed by current Gov. Bill Walker as a “special envoy” to revive a decades-long plan to connect Alaska’s and Canada’s fre [...]