FRESNO, Calif. – Trucks loaded with tomatoes, milk and almonds clog the two main highways that bisect California’s farm heartland, carrying goods to millions along the Pacific Coast and beyond.
This dusty stretch of land is the starting point for one of the most expensive U.S. public infrastructure projects: a $68 billion high-speed rail system that would span the state, linking the people of America’s salad bowl to more jobs, opportunity and buyers.
EDMONTON, Alberta – A Canadian National Railway train carrying liquefied petroleum gas and crude oil has derailed and exploded about 80 kilometres west of Edmonton, prompting an evacuation in the tiny community of Gainford.
Parkland County Emergency Services says it received a call about the accident involving a westbound train around 1 a.m. MT Saturday.
With the SMART Transportation Division (formerly UTU) beginning preparations for its June 2014 convention, all transportation division locals are reminded of the need to have a duly elected delegate and alternate delegate, as well as a working local seal, prior to the convention.
The three-day convention will be held June 30-July 2 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel in San Diego, Calif.
Locals with vacancies in either position must conduct elections as soon as possible, and advise the SMART TD office of the results.
Guidance on holding such elections can be downloaded from our website at www.utu.org by clicking on the “S&T Tools” link, then scrolling down to the bottom of the “Forms and Documents” column and clicking on “More forms….” to get to the following page: http://utu.org/secretary-treasurer-forms.
Documents on that page include “How to Hold Elections for Delegates, LCAs 2010,” as well as “Special Circular No. 28 – August 2010,” both of which offer guidance on conducting delegate and alternate delegate elections. Those with additional questions should contact the SMART TD office.
In addition, locals will need to have a working local seal to authenticate and certify delegate and alternate delegate credentials, which will be mailed out to each local in 2014. Those with no seals or with seals needing repair are advised to contact this office as soon as possible to make the necessary arrangements.
It’s that time again. Flu season is upon us and the flu shot is available to be taken now. There are between 135 and 139 million vaccinations available this year. Medicare Part B (including Railroad Medicare) normally pays for one flu shot per flu season.
There are two ways to take the vaccine – by injection or nasally – and there are different types of vaccine options. The vaccine traditionally protects against three or four different kinds of flu viruses: two that are influenza A and one or two that are influenza B.
Several of the vaccines are egg-based which means they’re manufactured in eggs or with egg protein. Those who are sensitive to eggs should discuss with their doctor which type of flu shot they should get.
If you are in one of the following categories, you should get a flu shot:
50 years or older;
At high risk of developing complications from the flu, such as pneumonia;
Have asthma, diabetes or chronic lung disease or other conditions;
Are a resident of a nursing home.
You can receive your vaccination at clinics, pharmacies, health departments or your doctor’s office. If your provider accepts Medicare, then Railroad Medicare should also be accepted. If they have any questions, they can call the Provider Contact at (888) 355-9165 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
If you have questions about your coverage call the Railroad Medicare Beneficiary Contact Center at (800) 833-4455 between 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., EST, Monday through Friday or visit www.PalmettoGBA.com and click on “Railroad Beneficiaries” along the left side.
Deregulation. In 2013, the word itself elicits some visceral reactions from people. The reactions tend to be felt through the prism of our ideological leanings.
Those right of center feel all warm and cozy inside when they hear this word as they picture commerce humming along unfettered while birds chirp and angels sing.
Those left of center tend to feel their stomach tighten as they envision robber barons left free to pillage and plunder.
OMAHA – Union Pacific says its third-quarter set revenue and per-share profit records as higher shipping rates helped the railroad offset flat volume overall and the traffic disruption from last month’s flooding in Colorado.
The results released Thursday were about in line with Wall Street expectations and the reduced forecast Union Pacific issued this month.
WASHINGTON – In reaction to a split between the state of Washington and federal agencies over the review process for new export terminals in the Pacific Northwest, representatives from the SMART Transportation Division, formerly the United Transportation Union, and the International Union of Operating Engineers Sept. 25 announced their overwhelming support for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers environmental review process.
“Recently, the Army Corps of Engineers announced they would conduct their site specific review of the proposed west coast terminals, just as they have always done at other port projects,” said Transportation Division Alternate National Legislative Director John Risch. “That decision is reasonable and rational and we applaud them for it. We support Environmental Impact reviews that have high environmental standards. We support building and expanding ports in environmentally sound ways and ones that require that any environmental concerns are adequately mitigated.”
Labor organizations are concerned about the potential consequences of Washington State’s unprecedentedly broad review of the export projects. Labor organizations fear the precedent set by the state review could impact infrastructure spending, trade investments and accompanying manufacturing jobs. The port expansion projects have been endorsed by a number of national and state labor organizations and will generate significant new union employment opportunities in the Pacific Northwest.
“We believe that Washington State is putting the Northwest’s primary economic driver – trade – in jeopardy with this approach,” said SMART’s Washington State Legislative Director Herb Krohn. “Washington’s proposed review process will set a dangerous precedent across our state, region and country when it comes to the development of infrastructure, and could be applied to many products – from airplanes, cars, to even agricultural or timber products.”
The announcement came in conjunction with the first hearings to be conducted separately by the Army Corps of Engineers and Washington State officials. Some oppose the terminals, on the basis that they will be used to ship coal in addition to other commodities. Increased coal shipments in particular will provide substantial private investment in infrastructure, something that will not only create new jobs, but will make the west coast ports more competitive.
Jeffrey Soth of the Operating Engineers concluded, “We urge the Washington State of Ecology to cooperate with the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a review that is fair, accurate and timely. Further delays will inhibit the growth of our economy and ensure the world’s growing energy demand is met by other countries that do not share America’s values for protecting workers or the environment.”
Washington State AFL-CIO leaders testified in front of a committee of the King County Council that not only had the state chapter come out in support last year of the Gateway Pacific Terminal, but also that the national AFL-CIO passed a resolution during its convention earlier this month in support of the project.
The King County Council committee put off its vote on a motion to oppose the terminal project after Krohn spoke in support of it.
“The national AFL-CIO resolution joins the state AFL-CIO endorsement from last year, in its strong statement in support of the Northwest coal export projects and echoes what labor in the Northwest has been saying all along — these projects will bring long-term employment for families across the state, millions in private investment for infrastructure, and money for cash strapped schools,” Krohn said.
Pictured, from left, are SMART?Transportation Division Alternate National Legislative Director John Risch, SMART?Washington State Legislative Director Herb Krohn and Jeffrey Soth, assistant director of the Department of Legislative and Political Affairs, International Union of Operating Engineers, at a Sept. 25 press conference at the AFL-CIO in Washington, D.C.
OMAHA, Neb. – CSX Corp. remains optimistic the railroad’s profits will improve over the next two years even though coal demand has remained stubbornly weak.
Officials at the Jacksonville, Fla.-based railroad said Wednesday that shipments of intermodal containers and merchandise will continue to be a larger part of their business.
WASHINGTON – Amtrak has successfully negotiated contracts with 19 state transportation departments and other entities to increase state control and funding of 28 current passenger rail routes. America’s Railroad is now poised to move forward with state partners to further expand and improve the intercity passenger rail network.
“We thank these state leaders who have sent a strong message in favor of Amtrak service and the need to offer multiple mobility options for the traveling public across their regions,” said Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman.
California-Caltrans, California-Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority, Connecticut, Indiana, Illinois, Maine-Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin have each reached agreement for Amtrak to operate their state corridor services.
“These state-supported services are vital links in the Amtrak national network that bring value, connectivity, economic development and jobs to states and local communities,” stated Tony Coscia, chairman of the Amtrak board of directors.
The 28 state-supported routes are in addition to the Amtrak Acela Express and Northeast Regional services in the Northeast and the overnight long-distance trains that connect the regions, which combined have set new records for ridership over the past decade.
“This has been a long process and one that has produced agreements that are fair and consistent while recognizing the needs of these states and the unique qualities of these routes,” Boardman continued. “Many of these are our fastest growing services and we are working on expansion plans with our partners in several states.”
The agreements fulfill Section 209 of the federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA). It required states to share costs with Amtrak under a consistent formula for all routes of less than 750 miles, excluding the Northeast Corridor. During the past four years, Amtrak and the states partnered to jointly develop the cost formula which received approval by the federal Surface Transportation Board.
Under the Section 209 policy, state partners will pay for approximately 85 percent of operating costs that are attributed to their routes, as well as for capital maintenance costs of the Amtrak equipment they use and for support costs such as safety programs and marketing. Amtrak will pay about 15 percent for “backbone” costs such as centralized dispatching and services, and back shops. States will continue to benefit from Amtrak’s incremental cost access rights to tracks owned by host railroads, dispatching priority and Amtrak capital investments that support the entire system such as technology improvements like eTicketing.
“Our state partners have told us they are expecting Amtrak to continue to improve the services we provide to them,” Boardman said. “It is a challenge I know we are ready to meet.”
EDMONTON, Alberta – A Canadian National Railway train carrying liquefied petroleum gas and crude oil has derailed and exploded about 80 kilometres west of Edmonton, prompting an evacuation in the tiny community of Gainford.
It’s that time again. Flu season is upon us and the flu shot is available to be taken now. There are between 135 and 139 million vaccinations available this year. Medicare Part B (including Railroad Medicare) normally pays for one flu shot per flu season.
Deregulation. In 2013, the word itself elicits some visceral reactions from people. The reactions tend to be felt through the prism of our ideological leanings.
OMAHA – Union Pacific says its third-quarter set revenue and per-share profit records as higher shipping rates helped the railroad offset flat volume overall and the traffic disruption from last month’s flooding in Colorado.
OMAHA, Neb. – CSX Corp. remains optimistic the railroad’s profits will improve over the next two years even though coal demand has remained stubbornly weak.
Philadelphia police are investigating three separate accidents involving SEPTA buses in Philadelphia.
WASHINGTON – Amtrak has successfully negotiated contracts with 19 state transportation departments and other entities to increase state control and funding of 28 current passenger rail routes. America’s Railroad is now poised to move forward with state partners to further expand and improve the intercity passenger rail network.