Transportation News

Visit the digital archive of the SMART-TD News (PDFs)

Amtrak train derails in Northfield, Vermont

A southbound Amtrak train derailed Monday morning in central Vermont after apparently striking a rock slide, officials said. The accident occurred in the town of Northfield, about 10 miles south of Montpelier, the state capital. A spokesperson for the Montpelier Fire Departme [...]

Transportation sector gains 3,500 jobs in September

The transportation sector gained 3,500 jobs in September as the national unemployment remained steady at 5.1 percent, according to statistics released by the Department of Labor on Friday. The Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said there were 4,797,800 jobs [...]

FMCSA: commercial motor vehicle study concludes

WASHINGTON – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced today that the Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Driver Restart Study has concluded data collection for the congressionally-mandated naturalistic study of the operational, safety, health, and fatigue [...]

FTA issues proposed rule on safety and repairs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Sept. 30 issued a proposed rule that would require public transportation agencies to monitor and manage their capital assets to achieve and maintain a state of good repair. Identifying a [...]

Treasurers' workshop scheduled for Oct. 27-28

The SMART Transportation Division will be conducting a Treasurers’ Workshop at the Drury Inn & Suites Kansas City Airport on October 27 and 28, 2015. Attendance will be limited to 35 registrants, so those interested in attending are instructed to contact Dora Wolf i [...]

Police: rail worker killed by train at Kansas rail yard

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Authorities are investigating after a Union Pacific Railroad employee was found dead under a rail car in Kansas City, Kansas. According to police, officers responded to reports of a person trapped under a train in a rail yard around 11:20 a.m. Tuesday. Rea [...]

Previsich discusses candidacy with Sen. Sanders

SMART Transportation Division President John Previsich recently conversed with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I – Vt.) about Sanders’ democratic candidacy for President of the United States and the positive impact that the voice of unionized labor can have on the outcome [...]

Foxx unveils Build America Investment Center

WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today formally unveiled the Department of Transportation’s Build America Transportation Investment Center (BATIC). BATIC will serve as the single point of contact and coordination for states, municipalities and project s [...]

House approves six-month FAA funding extension

The House approved a bill on Monday to extend federal aviation funding, which is currently set to expire on Wednesday, until March 2016.  The measure, introduced on Friday by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R – Pa.), was approved [...]

Private rail pensions may reduce supplemental annuities

Railroad retirement beneficiaries are reminded that receipt of a private railroad pension may reduce the amount of a supplemental annuity payable by the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). The following questions and answers provide information on this subject, as well as how di [...]