Transportation News

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RRB: unemployment, sickness benefits will decrease

Beginning October 1, 2015, the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will reduce railroad unemployment and sickness insurance benefits by 6.8 percent, down from the current 7.3 percent reduction, due to federal budget cuts required by law. The adjusted reduction amount is base [...]

Senate bill extends FAA funding for six months

The Senate’s bill to prevent a government shutdown on Oct. 1 would extend federal aviation funding for six months.  The measure, which was released by Senate appropriators on Tuesday, Sept. 22, contains language that would extend the Federal Aviation Administration̵ [...]

DOT announces loan for CATS Blue Line extension

Washington – U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced a $180 million Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan to the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) for construction of the LYNX Blue Line light rail extension. The TIFIA loan [...]

Dems. roll-out new pro-union bill

Days after the Republican presidential candidate Scott Walker announced his plan to get rid of the National Labor Relations Board, Democratic lawmakers are rolling out a plan to strengthen the government agency. The bill, introduced on Wednesday, will also serve as a litmus t [...]

DOT clears Richmond-to-Raleigh high-speed rail

Secretary urges continued cooperation to build project. Project would reduce trip time to just over 2 hours from current 3.5. Washington –  The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the State of North Carolina and the Commonwealth of [...]

FRA's Feinberg testifies before Senate committee

At a nomination hearing September 17, 2015, before the Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Acting Administrator Sarah Feinberg testified on her qualifications as Administrator. Below is her speec [...]

Trust fund investment practices of the RRB

Beginning in 2002, a significant portion of the assets of the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has been invested in private stocks, bonds, and other investments. Prior to the Railroad Retirement and Survivors’ Improvement Act of 2001, P.L. 107-90, surplus railroad retire [...]

TTD applauds movement on Hudson River rail tunnel

Washington — Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issued the following statement on the progress to build a new Hudson River rail tunnel: “We are pleased that Governors Chris Christie (N.J.) and Andrew Cuomo (N.Y.) have advanced a [...]

New study calls for multiple person train crews

“Back on Track: Bringing Rail Safety to the 21st Century,” is a study conducted by the Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure (Aii) on opportunities that are currently available to enhance rail transportation safety in the United States.  The study, which focuses la [...]