Transportation News

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Registration open for Albuquerque RTS

The SMART Transportation Division’s next Regional Training Seminar (RTS) is scheduled to take place March 4 through 7, 2024, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque. Attendee check-in begins the afternoon of March 4, and those attending should plan to arrive then. Cl [...]

Victory in the Empire State: N.Y. two-person crew bill signed

Given a second chance to act, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has chosen to side with safety. In late 2022, a bill requiring two-person crews on freight trains in the state reached her desk and she vetoed it. But something changed this year — perhaps it was seeing legislatures and [...]

SEPTA bus members ratify new contract

Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, has been known for being anything but loving when it comes to wage increases and quality of life benefits for its transportation professionals. First-year General Chairperson Anthony Petty of SMART-TD’s SPT General Committee announced [...]

FTA announces random drug and alcohol testing rates for 2024

The calendar year 2024 drug and alcohol random testing rates for specific recipients of Federal Transit Administration financial assistance were published in the Federal Register on Nov. 30, 2023. The minimum random drug testing rate will remain at 50 percent, and the random [...]

Your union needs your social media contributions

We need your help brothers and sisters! SMART Transportation Division members and retirees are always welcome and encouraged to contribute pictures, videos, stories and article leads, and with the ever-changing social media formats, we’re ready for them now more than ever. Ou [...]

ERMA lifetime maximum benefit to increase in 2024

The lifetime maximum benefit for the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit (ERMA or GA-46000) Plan will increase from $188,000 to $195,100 beginning Jan. 1, 2024. At the end of 2001, labor and management had agreed on various procedures to adminis [...]

California High-Speed Rail Authority pledges to use unionized labor

CALIFORNIA – Today, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CAHSRA), which oversees the largest high-speed rail project under construction in North America, announced a ground-breaking agreement with 13 rail unions to utilize rail workers covered by federal railroad labor l [...]