Transportation News

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Great Lakes sets date to begin Salina, Kan. flights

Great Lakes Airlines has announced a new date to begin flights between Salina, Kan., and Denver. Flights will now begin June 15. The airline was originally set to begin flights April 1, but was delayed due to the lack of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security s [...]

NTSB releases probable cause of Amtrak 188 crash

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a board meeting (webcasted live) yesterday, detailing the probable cause of the May 2015 Amtrak train 188 derailment outside of Philadelphia. The derailment caused eight people to lose their lives and over 200 injuries. The [...]

Risch speech to NARVRE: unity and action

“The greatest threat to Railroad Retirement and Social Security is if Congress tries to mess with either one, which would automatically affect our pensions,” said John Risch, National Legislative Director of SMART TD.  He made his remarks to the biannual convention of the Nat [...]

SMART TD Legislative Director urges unity and action in speech to NARVRE

 “The greatest threat to Railroad Retirement and Social Security is if Congress tries to mess with either one, which would automatically affect our pensions,” said John Risch, National Legislative Director of SMART TD.  He made his remarks to the biannual convention of the Na [...]

Minn. Board, Local 1000 and NIEHS to host HAZMAT training

The SMART TD Minnesota State Legislative Board, Local 1000 at Minneapolis, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) have partnered together to offer Minnesota railroaders HAZMAT training. The class is being held Friday, June 3, 2016, from 7:30 a.m. [...]

First Student receives ASE Blue Seal of Excellence

Ten First Student Bus locations have recently received the Blue Seal of Excellence from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Of the 10 properties that received the award, Local 1908 of Buffalo, N.Y., were one of those properties. According to First [...]

Newly renovated hotel for SMART TD visitors

…and right across the street! SMART TD recently negotiated a great deal with Extended Stay American Hotels, located at 24851 Country Club Blvd. in North Olmsted—a short walk to SMART TD headquarters. These roomy suites have been completely renovated and cost only $64 pe [...]

Risch, Harrison testify at Sleep Apnea hearing

National Legislative Director John Risch and Local 759 (Newark, N.J.) Secretary and Treasurer Craig Harrison testified at a public hearing today before the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) about Obstructive Slee [...]

City of Lac-Megantic, Quebec studying plan to reroute railway

In the wake of the devastating oil train disaster nearly three years ago that killed 47 people in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, city leaders are in the first phase of studies to determine the feasibility of rerouting the train tracks to avoid train transit through the city’s downtown [...]

DOT threatens to shut down D.C. Metro for safety reasons

USA Today reports that U.S. DOT Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx threatened to shut down the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA or D.C. Metro) if the company does not improve safety. Foxx’s announcement comes after Metro employees refused DOT’s Federal [...]