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The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) passed $56.5 billion legislation to fund its programs for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017. The bill includes several positive allocations for rail:

  • $1.7 billion for the Federal Railroad Administration –  $76 million above FY 2016 enacted level
  • $525 million for TIGER Grants – $25 million above FY 2016 enacted level
  • $2.3 billion for Capital Investment Grants (New Starts) — $161 million above FY 2016 enacted level
  • Amtrak: $345 million for the Northeast Corridor and $1.075 billion for the National Network – total $30 million above FY 2016 enacted levels
  • New passenger rail grant programs created under FAST Act: $50 million for Consolidation Rail and Infrastructure and Improvement grants; $20 million for State of Good Repair grants; and $15 million for Restoration and Enhancement grants

The Senate also passed legislation that would reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through FY 2017. The legislation would authorize the appropriation of $155 million from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund for the Essential Air Service (EAS) for each of the FYs 2016 and 2017.

Both pieces of legislation face more hurdles before they become law, but we are pleased that they include positive developments for our rail and air members.

amtrak car; amtrakOn Friday, April 8, Amtrak filed a lawsuit against Cimarron Crossing Feeders, LLC, claiming “gross negligence” as the alleged cause of a derailment last month that left 32 passengers injured. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found in their investigation that one of the feed company’s trucks had struck the side of the railroad trucks, shifting the alignment of the tracks. The lawsuit alleges that Cimarron Crossing Feeders failed to notify BNSF, the owner of the tracks, or Amtrak, of the damage. Click here to read more from The Hutchinson News. Click here to read SMART TD’s March 14 report on the derailment.

TTD_FotorIn a letter to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), endorsed better oversight of curbside bus operators. In there letter, the TTD says “the passenger bus sector must be held to one standard of safety and curbside operators should not be allowed to operate unsafe vehicles, violate hours of service rule or avoid compliance with driver screening regulation simply because of where they pick up passengers.” Their letter to the FMCSA is on behalf of 32 affiliated unions, of which SMART is a part. Click here to read the letter.  

amtrak car; amtrakAmtrak train 89 struck a backhoe this morning in Chester, Pa., just south of Philadelphia. Of the 341 passengers on board around 35 were injured. The two that died were the backhoe operator and a supervisor. Family members of those on board can call 800-523-9101 to inquire about their loved ones. Travel along the Northeast Corridor has been suspended while the accident is being investigated. ABC has reported that New Jersey Transit is accepting valid Amtrak tickets between New York City and Trenton, N.J. Read more from ABC WPVI-TV. Read the official press release from Amtrak here.

National Legislative Director John Risch, New Jersey State Legislative Director Daniel O’Connell, LIRR General Chairperson Anthony Simon and many others speak out in support of labor at Saturday’s labor rally. The rally comes ahead of a possible March 13 strike and/or lockout at New Jersey Transit.

DiversityThe Detroit Free Press writes that the fight for civil rights has been a long-fought battle by unions. In the past, it was legal to discriminate against minorities in the workplace when it came to hiring and wage equality. After it became illegal to discriminate, minorities still faced bias. Today, unions are still fighting to keep discrimination out of the workplace. Click here to read the full story from Detroit Free Press. *** Have a civil rights issue at your workplace? SMART Transportation Division is the only union to have a committee dedicated to human rights. The SMART TD Human Rights Committee works to educate members and employers about diversity in the workplace and promotes diversity awareness. Click here to view the Human Rights Committee handbook. Click here for a list of committee members and their contact information.

human_rights_committee_2013
SMART Transportation Division Human Rights Committee with Transportation Division President John Previsich (right) and Vice President John Lesniewski (middle).

Boardman
Boardman
NJ.com reports that Amtrak President Joseph Boardman testified before the Senate Commerce Committee’s Surface Transportation Subcommittee about the importance of the new rail tunnels under the Hudson River. In his testimony, Boardman said the tunnels are Amtrak’s top priority. “This committee has heard testimony in the past from numerous officials…about the urgent need for capital investment in the infrastructure. Our top priority among a long list of major priorities is the Gateway Program,” Boardman said in his testimony before the subcommittee. “The first element of the Gateway Program is to build a new, two-track Hudson River rail tunnel that will allow Amtrak to rebuild the existing tunnel without disruption to the 450 daily NJ Transit and Amtrak trains that operate over these two tracks.” Click here to read the complete story from NJ.com. Click here to read Boardman’s full testimony before the Surface Transportation Subcommittee.

Foxx
Foxx
According to Mass Transit Magazine, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx asked transportation stakeholders to make the most of the $305 billion allocated to the FAST Act in a letter dated Feb. 19. Foxx encouraged the stakeholders to use the money to create transit jobs to maximize the impact of the FAST Act. Click here to read the full article from Mass Transit Magazine.

RRB_seal_150pxThe Railroad Retirement Board has announced the locations and dates of their informational conferences for Spring 2016. All conference registrations begin at 8:00 a.m., with the programs beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 12:15 p.m. These informational conferences are beneficial to newly elected officers, retirees, those planning to retire and spouses. Click here to view a list of conference dates and locations.

Smith
Smith
Colorado State Legislative Director Carl Smith reports that the Colorado House of Representatives’ Transportation and Energy Committee will hear public testimony on House Bill 1136 (H.B. 1136). H.B. 1136 is the state’s two-person crew bill for freight trains operating within the state. The hearing will be held Thursday, Feb. 25, at 10 a.m. at the Colorado State Capitol, 200 E. Colfax, Denver, CO, in room 0112. “Members are encouraged to attend the hearing and show their support for this important safety bill,” Smith said. “Colorado residents can use corailsafe.com to contact their state legislators and encourage them to support H.B. 1136 for safety.”