Category: Amtrak/Commuter News
Sen. Schumer implores feds to screen transit employees
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is asking the Dept. of Homeland Security to “immediately step in to enforce a recommendation” made years ago to screen mass transit employees against federal terror watch lists. Read the complete article from abcnews.go.com.Trump slams union leader for speaking the truth
President-elect Trump wasted no time in slamming a union leader for speaking the truth. Chuck Jones, president of United Steelworkers Local 1999 at the Carrier plant in Indiana, stated that the actual number of jobs that will remain at the Indiana plant is near 800, not the n [...]
Railroad Retirement and Unemployment Insurance Taxes in 2017
The amounts of compensation subject to railroad retirement tier I and tier II payroll taxes will increase in 2017, while the tax rates on employers and employees will stay the same. In addition, unemployment insurance contribution rates paid by railroad employers will continu [...]
FMCSA establishes national drug and alcohol testing clearinghouse
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced a final rule, Friday, Dec. 2, that establishes a national drug and alcohol clearinghouse for commercial truck and bus drivers. The clearinghouse database will serve as [...]
TTD statement re: Chao nomination for Transportation Secretary
Ed Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issued a statement regarding Trump’s recent nomination of Elaine Chao as Secretary of Transportation. Read the complete statement here.NYC commuter rail lags behind in PTC technology
ABCNews.go.com reported that federal regulators are concerned about the lack of progress from NYC commuter rail in implementing potentially lifesaving Positive Train Control (PTC) technology. “The nation’s three busiest commuter railroads — which together serve n [...]
FRA proposes safety updates for high-speed rail
Provides new path for passenger safety to be evaluated and achieved; Agency invites comments on proposal WASHINGTON – The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) proposed updates for the passenger train safety standards used in the United States as the country looks to add hig [...]
Rail inspection cars used in Toys for Tots collection
‘Tis the season of giving, and in southwest Pennsylvania, historic rail cars rolled through hills and valleys to collect generous donations for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign. Nineteen railroad inspection vehicles, decorated for the holidays, covered 40 miles t [...]