Transportation News

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FRA cautions rails about flat switching operations

WASHINGTON – The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) May 3 issued an industry-wide safety advisory to warn about safety hazards associated with flat switching operations on railroads. Since 2009, six railroad employees sustained fatal injuries placing themselves between uns [...]

LaHood gives Amtrak $30M for Sandy repairs

WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood May 3 announced he is providing $30.2 million to Amtrak to repair damage caused by Hurricane Sandy along its heavily-traveled Northeast Corridor. The funding comes from the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 and is [...]

N.C. SLD: Let’s focus on workplace safety

By Ron Ingerick,North Carolina State Legislative Director –  The deadly explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas, and the deaths of workers and first responders there should be a wake-up call for all of us here. Last year, in North Carolina, 148 of our hardworking siste [...]

Amtrak marks 42 years of service with funding plea

Amtrak marked 42 years of service on May 1 with a plea for more money from Congress. CEO Joe Boardman said Amtrak remains a “vital part” of the nation’s transportation system, but can’t continue to fulfill its “national mission” without mor [...]

Oregon working to pass pro-union legislation

The state of Oregon’s House and Senate have been working to pass bills that are labor-friendly. Most recently, H.B. 3342 passed through the House and has made its way into the Senate. If passed, the bill would outlaw public sector union-busting. Public employers will no [...]

Ohio joins in the fight against right-to-work bills

05/02/13 UPDATE: Ohio right-to-work bills were considered “dead-on-arrival” as Senate Republic President Keith Faber rejected the bills last night in an after-hours press conference. “We have an ambitious agenda focused on job creation and economic recovery, and R [...]

BNSF partners with Ill. colleges to offer certificate

Spoon River College (SRC) of Canton, Ill., Carl Sandburg College (CSC) of Galesburg, Ill. and BNSF has partnered together to offer a new Rail Transportation & Power System Technology Certificate. Students enrolled in the program will study circuits, hydraulics, welding, d [...]

Obama nominates Charlotte Mayor Foxx to head DOT

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold a confirmation hearing on transportation secretary nominee Anthony Foxx May 22, according to Chairman John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.). President Obama announced April 29 Anthony Foxx as his nominee for t [...]

Administration drops redundant driver’s license rule

The federal government is relaxing a rule for drivers of buses and large trucks who are involved in out-of-state traffic violations. ?? The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, an office of the Department of Transportation, is eliminating a requirement that drivers no [...]

Man admits to illegally collecting railroad retirement

BANGOR, Maine – Gerald E. Bailey, 68, of Pittston, Maine pled guilty on Tuesday, April 23 to charges of collecting pension that he was not entitled to. Bailey retired from Springfield Terminal Railway in 2004 and began receiving his pension payments from the Railroad Retireme [...]