Maryland Senate Advancing Two-Person Crew Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Maryland Senate Advances Two-Person Crew Bill, Putting Rail Safety First

ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 4, 2026) — Maryland Senate leadership announced its intent to advance Two-Person Crew (2-PC) rail safety legislation to Governor Wes Moore’s desk, marking a major victory for the safety of workers and communities across the state.

The bill is expected to move out of the Senate Finance Committee and pass the full chamber ahead of the legislative session’s close.

Driven by months of grassroots advocacy, the effort was led by SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD) members who testified, met with lawmakers, and pushed for action in Annapolis.

This legislation is rooted in a simple principle: protecting lives.

With rail lines crossing nearly every corner of Maryland, requiring a minimum of two qualified crew members on freight trains is a common-sense safety measure designed to prevent disasters and protect both rail workers and the public.

This is not about any one union. It is about the safety and well-being of every Marylander.

Member-Led Effort Delivers Results

Following the model of previous legislative victories in the state, including Maryland’s landmark 2025 transit worker assault law, SMART-TD members played the decisive role in moving this bill forward.

Maryland State Safety and Legislative Director David Pendleton, in his second year in the role, credited the union’s membership and local leadership. “This was a total team effort,” Pendleton said. “Our members showed up. They made the calls, they gave testimony, and they carried the message. I witnessed top to bottom incredible leadership from our local officers across Maryland. In our office, Tom Cahill and Brittany Garris were sensational and Nationally, Brother Directors Cassity and Roach went above and beyond to make sure we had all of the support we needed to deliver this to our members! I could not be more proud of what everyone accomplished together.”

National Leadership and Support

SMART-TD National Safety and Legislative Director Jared Cassity emphasized the importance of unity across the organization. “What happened in Maryland is exactly what this union is built to do,” Cassity said. “When our members organize, when local leadership steps up, and when we work together across every level of this union, we can move mountains. This legislation will save lives, plain and simple.”

 Deputy National Safety and Legislative Director Don Roach, who until recently served as Michigan State Safety and Legislative Director, highlighted both the challenge and significance of Pendleton’s leadership. “I know firsthand the pressure that comes with this job,” Roach said. “You’re responsible for your members, your state, and the safety of the public, and you’re often stepping into big shoes.”

Roach noted that Pendleton took over the role following longtime Maryland SLD Larry Kasecamp. “David came into this position with a lot on his shoulders, tremendous pressure to build upon the foundation that Larry laid, ” Roach continued. “In a very short time, he has made a real, measurable impact on the safety, job security, and quality of life for our Maryland members. That should not be lost on anyone.”

Safety Over Profits

As trains grow longer and carry more hazardous materials, maintaining adequate crew size has become a critical safety issue. SMART-TD members and Maryland lawmakers worked together to ensure communities are not treated as collateral damage or reduced to a line item on a corporate balance sheet.

The union also recognized the leadership of Governor Wes Moore, House Speaker Joseline

Pena-Melnyk, Senate President Bill Ferguson, and legislators in both chambers who stood up to corporate pressure to prioritize public safety.

A Clear Message

This victory underscores what can be achieved when working people organize and engage in the legislative process. The Maryland Safety and Legislative Board would like to give a special thanks to coalition partners the MD-DC State Federation AFL-CIO, Metropolitan Washington AFL-CIO, MD Legislation Coalition, Unitarian Universalist Environmental  Justice Ministry, MD Pipe Trades Association, IAFF, IBEW Local 26, Metropolitan Baltimore AFL-CIO, and ATU Local 1300.

With final passage expected soon, Maryland is poised to take a major step forward in protecting rail workers and the communities they serve. As Maryland SLD, David Pendleton pointed out, “A lot of us in 2026 are living our lives discouraged, but today, what SMART-TD and the great state of Maryland have proved is that the system still works as long as ‘We, The People’ are willing to stand up, participate in it, and show the willingness to make it true.

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For more information or to connect with SMART-TD’s Maryland State Safety and Legislative Director, David Pendleton, or a member of his leadership team, please contact: