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A ‘ring, ring’ may cost you your job

February 11, 2011 The Federal Railroad Administration has a stark message for rail workers with safety-related duties: Only use your cell phone when allowed or you could lose your job. Emergency Order No. 26, which went into effect in October 2008, restricts the use by train crews and others i [...]

Senate bill would cut track miles for PTC

February 9, 2011 WASHINGTON — The senior Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee, Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, introduced legislation Feb. 8 to reduce the rail route miles over which positive train control (PTC) must be implemented before January 2016. Senate co-sponsors include J [...]

Tags FRA, positive train control, PTC, Rail Safety Improvement Act

Obama set to square off with GOP on HSR

February 9, 2011 WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is pushing for a six-year, $53 billion investment in high-speed, higher-speed and expanded passenger rail service, but a fight is brewing with congressional Republicans. An initial $8 billion in funding for these rail projects is ex [...]

Tags Congress, GOP, high-speed rail, HSR, Obama, Ray LaHood, T&I committee

Senate Banking (Transit) Committee members

February 7, 2011 WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats and Republicans have finalized appointments to the Senate Banking Committee, which is responsible for legislation affecting mass transit. Committee chairman is Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.). Democrats: Tim Johnson (S.D.), chairmanDaniel Akaka [...]

Tags committee members, democrats, members, republicans, Senate Banking Committee, transit

Senate Labor Committee members

February 7, 2011 WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats and Republicans have finalized appointments to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Legislation affecting retirement, labor law and workplace issues are under the initial jurisdiction of this committee, which is chair [...]

Tags committee, committee members, democrats, members, republicans, Senate Labor Committee

Senate Commerce Committee members

February 7, 2011 WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats and Republicans have finalized appointments to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Most transportation legislation moving through the Senate affecting air, bus and rail safety and economic regulation is under the init [...]

Tags committee members, democrats, members, republicans, safety, Senate Commerce Committee

Making bus voices heard in Washington

February 3, 2011 By Bonnie MorrAlternate Vice President, Bus Department The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is seeking comments on proposed new rules affecting drivers of commercial motor vehicles, which includes bus operators. The rules cover revocation or disqualificatio [...]

Shipper protection bills back in Senate

January 28, 2011 Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) have reintroduced legislation this Congress that would lasso railroad pricing power. S. 49, introduced by Kohl, would repeal some of the railroads’ antitrust exemptions. S. 158, introduced by Rockefeller and co-s [...]

Tags bills, Congress, senate, shipper protection, U.S. Surface Transportation Board

A president embraces the iron horse

January 28, 2011 In his state-of-the-union speech Jan. 26, President Obama mentioned the word “railroad” eight times — the most mentions of “railroad” in more than 30 years of state-of-the-union messages delivered by five different presidents. Yes, there are thos [...]

Tags high-speed rail, HSR, Iron Horse, Obama, rail, railroad, Train

Obama: All-aboard for high-speed rail

January 26, 2011 In a state-of-the-union speech uncharacteristically short on laundry list projects and policies, President Obama Tuesday night conspicuously singled out high-speed rail as “the most reliable way to move people,” saying that “within 25 years, our goal is to g [...]

Tags Bill Shuster, high-speed rail, House Rail Subcommittee, HSR, Obama, state-of-the-union speech