Category: Amtrak/Commuter News
Nuria Fernandez confirmed by Senate to lead FTA
By voice vote June 10, the U.S. Senate confirmed Nuria Fernandez as the 15th administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Fernandez joined the Biden administration as deputy administrator of the agency on Jan. 21 and had served as the senior FTA official until h [...]
INVEST Act passes committee with safety measures, including two-person crew, intact
After a session that began the morning of June 9 and carried on overnight into the pre-dawn hours of June 10, the INVEST in America Act passed out of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee with two-person crew and other provisions important to SMART Transp [...]
The INVEST in America Act and how it protects TD members
A surface transportation reauthorization bill introduced June 4 by chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) has a wide-reaching positive impact for members of the SMART Transportation Division. Mostly mirroring the identically n [...]
SMART-TD Leaders Pledge Support to 2021 INVEST in America Act
CLEVELAND, Ohio (June 4, 2021) – Leaders of the SMART Transportation Division today announced their full support of the 2021 version of the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act. The transformational $547 b [...]
Biden budget proposal boosts funds for RRB staffing
The 2022 fiscal year budget proposed by the Biden administration May 28 offers a net increase in funding to the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) to cover accumulating administrative costs and to improve customer service. The White House’s budget request of a little over $125 m [...]U.S. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg recommends $2.5 billion for new and expanded transit services
WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced the recommendation of $2.5 billion to advance the construction or completion of 25 rail, bus rapid transit (BRT) and streetcar projects in 12 states, as well as other projects that may become ready for fundin [...]RRB: Railroad Retirement survivor benefits
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 [...]
RRB reminds that 2020 service statements will be released in June
Notice from John Bragg, the RRB labor member Brothers and Sisters, It is hard to believe that 2020 is in the rearview mirror and we are already approaching the mid-point of 2021. The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is still operating in a remote capacity with field offices cl [...]