Transportation News

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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 [...]

RRB: Medicare Part B premiums for 2017

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced that the standard monthly Part B premium will be $134.00 in 2017. However, most Medicare beneficiaries will not pay this amount. By law, Part B premiums for current enrollees cannot increase by more than the amoun [...]

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 [...]

GA-46000 lifetime maximum adjusted for 2017

The lifetime maximum benefit for the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit (ERMA or GA-46000) Plan will increase from $151,600 to $157,800 beginning Jan. 1, 2017. At the end of 2001, Labor and Management had agreed on various procedures to adminis [...]

Two CSX trains collide in Florida

Two CSX trains collided in Marion County, Fla. in the early hours of Wednesday, Nov. 16, causing approximately 20 train cars to derail. Two members of the train crews were treated for injuries and released without hospitalization. An estimated 15,000 gallons of fuel was spill [...]

Risch op-ed: Use rail, not Dakota Pipeline

In an op-ed piece recently published in thedickinsonpress.com, John Risch,  native North Dakotan and freight rail operator for more than thirty years, makes the case that the Dakota Access Pipeline is not needed to transport crude oil, as freight rail infrastructure is alread [...]