Category: Transportation
FTA certifies state safety oversight programs of N.C., Wash. & Puerto Rico
States must receive FTA certification by April 15, 2019, or new federal transit funds cannot be awarded WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced that North Carolina, Puerto Rico and Washington have obtained federal ce [...]
FAA refuses to regulate seat size and legroom on planes
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was ordered by a judge in 2017 to address the issue of airlines shrinking the sizes of seats and legroom in order to add more seating on planes. The FAA has responded by ruling that seat shrinkage does not affect passenger safety and [...]
President Previsich announces date, site for 2019 TD Regional Meeting
SEATTLE — SMART Transportation Division President John Previsich announced July 4, on the final day of the TD Regional Meeting in Seattle, the location of the 2019 regional meeting. The Hilton San Diego Bayfront in San Diego, host to the 2014 SMART TD convention, will h [...]
SMART TD Regional, Day 3: President Previsich answers member questions
SEATTLE — SMART Transportation Division President John Previsich answered questions from members about the Janus decision, upcoming 2019 national rail labor contract negotiations and discussed new technological initiatives. The Janus decision affects a handful of proper [...]
SMART TD Regional, Day 3: National Legislative Director John Risch updates members
SEATTLE — SMART Transportation Division National Legislative Director John Risch gave attendees a broad overview of the landscape of the transit industry on the third day of the TD regional meeting. Among the topics covered: how to grow support for transportation-relate [...]
SMART TD Regional, Day 2: GP Sellers calls for strength, unity in battling attack on labor
SEATTLE — SMART General President Joseph Sellers Jr. said Tuesday that the union will move in a unified direction at all levels in the fight against the ongoing attack on labor by monied right-wing interests. His call to action at the second day of the SMART Transportat [...]
SMART TD Regional, Day 1: Solidarity key to fighting in post-Janus world
Strength, unity and education will be the way to fight the United States Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision last week on Janus v. AFSCME 31 that overturned more than four decades of legal precedent. That was the message given at the opening session of the SMART Transportation [...]
Big Blue Bus driver touted as hero, honored with award
Big Blue Bus (BBB) operator and SMART TD member Rochelle Beamon (Local 1785) has been honored by Santa Monica, California’s city manager with the city’s “Elaine” award. Beamon has been labeled a hero after she managed to miss hitting a man on an electr [...]