Category: Washington
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 [...]
SOFA releases fatality and severe injury report for the 4th quarter 2018
The Federal Railroad Administration’s Switching Operations Fatality Analysis working group (SOFA) – which has three SMART TD representatives – has released its switching fatality and severe injury update for the fourth quarter of 2018. SOFA reported a total of 17 severe [...]
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 [...]
Pacific Northwest sustainability advocates pick up on ECP benefits
An article published March 28 on the website of the Sightline Institute follows up on an Associated Press report from over the winter about the Department of Transportation’s repeal of the Federal Railroad Administration’s electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) [...]
Supreme Court: Part of lost wages award is taxable under Railroad Retirement Act
A decision by the U.S. Supreme Court found that the portion of a damages award attributable to lost wages for a workplace injury is considered to be taxable compensation under the Railroad Retirement Tax Act (RRTA). The decision in BNSF Railway Co. v. Loos (No. 17-1042) was r [...]
Two large U.S. rail unions announce national two-person crew legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 22, 2019) – Two large railroad unions in the United States have pledged their joint support for the Safe Freight Act legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Don Young (R – Alaska). The Safe Freight Act (H.R. 1748) requires that two certified crew mem [...]FRA declares emergency because of Midwest flooding
Pursuant to Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 211.45, Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Ronald L. Batory has determined that the extreme flooding currently occurring throughout the Midwest United States constitutes an “emergency event” as related [...]