Category: Amtrak/Commuter News
FRA announces meeting of reconvened RSAC
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced Tuesday, April 9, that the Rail Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) will meet later this month for the first time since its reinstatement last autumn. According to a notice published in the Federal Register, RSAC is scheduled t [...]
Metro-North, NJT heavily fined by FRA since 2013
According to an analysis done by northjersey.com, Metro-North, New Jersey Transit (NJT) and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) have been fined hundreds of thousands of dollars since 2013. Before the companies’ lawyers negotiated for lower fines, Metro-North had been assessed mo [...]Amtrak budget again being targeted
Amtrak as we know it is in the budget crosshairs again, and if proposed cuts go through, it could have a lasting effect on not only our nation’s communities, but Railroad Retirement benefits as well. President Donald Trump’s budget request proposes a $1.06 billion reduction i [...]
Metra performing ‘safety blitzes’ and is in process of evaluating stations
Illinois commuter carrier Metra, in conjunction with Operation Lifesaver, has embarked on a series of educational safety blitzes to raise awareness of the importance of safe behavior around its trains and tracks. The carrier reported in a March 26 news release that the state [...]
Local 60 legislative rep is New Jersey Transit board nominee
David Rasmussen, legislative representative for SMART Transportation Division Local 60 (Newark, N.J.), has been nominated as the rail labor representative on the New Jersey Transit (NJT) board by Gov. Phil Murphy. “A strong NJ TRANSIT Board is critical to ensuring a leadershi [...]
Your Track to Health lists assistance for flooding victims
The disastrous flooding in the Midwest has affected thousands of people, including SMART Transportation Division members. To help assist those who have had their lives affected by the floods, Your Track to Health has compiled a list of services and information for behavioral [...]
All state rail transit safety oversight programs have been certified by FTA
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced March 18 that the 31 State Safety Oversight (SSO) programs in 30 states have been certified in advance of the April 15, 2019, safety deadline. “Safety is the department’s [...]
AFL-CIO TTD sets rail safety priorities at meeting
The AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department (TTD) on March 11 announced the railroad industry issues that the coalition of transportation unions, of which SMART Transportation Division is a member, will prioritize in the coming months. Of the highest importance, the [...]