Transportation News

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Silver Spring Amtrak crash remembered, 20 years later

Washington’s Top News reported on two firefighters’ recollections of the fatal collision between a commuter train and an Amtrak train in Silver Spring, Maryland 20 years ago. Eleven people lost their lives in the crash. Read the entire story here.

GOP proposes devolution of rail law

In a letter to the editor and published by The Hill, AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD) President Edward Wytkind warns that GOP presidential candidates want to devolutionize laws governing freight and passenger rail in the U.S. The candidates are in support of der [...]

TTD: Congress should endorse Amtrak funding

Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issued the following statement in response to Amtrak’s 2017 General and Legislative Annual Report: “Amtrak has submitted a funding request for FY2017 that gives our national passenger railroad a [...]

Great Lakes to provide flights to Salina, Kan.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has selected Great Lakes Airlines to provide Essential Air Service Program flights from the Salina Regional Airport to the Denver International Airport. Great Lakes will provide Salina area residents and businesses with nonstop service in [...]

Do you want more passenger rail service in Alabama?

By John Previsich, president of SMART Transportation Division and Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (www.ttd.org). Alabamians sure love their college football, but what we’ve just recently learned is that they also like their pas [...]

Unions authorize strike against NJ Transit

NJ.com reported that members of the 17 rail union coalition have authorized a strike against New Jersey Transit. However, SMART TD General Chairperson Steve Burkert said, “We are certainly hopeful that NJ Transit gets back to the negotiating table.” Read the compl [...]

Railroad Retirement annuities not taxable by state

According to Section 14 (45 U.S.C. Section 231m) of the Railroad Retirement Act retirement annuities are not taxable for individual state income tax purposes. Bruce Rodman, of the Public Affairs/Office of Administration of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board says, “Both of our [...]

Register now for SMART TD Treasurers' Workshop

SMART Transportation Division will be conducting a Treasurers’ Workshop at the International Headquarters located in North Olmsted, Ohio on March 8-10, 2016. Attendance will be limited to 35 registrants, so those interested in attending are instructed to contact Dora Wolf in [...]

NJT Unions continue to negotiate as strike date looms

February 3, 2016 – Talks between the eleven unions in the NJT Rail Labor Coalition and negotiators from New Jersey Transit continued today, but no agreement was reached. Both sides pledged to continue negotiating. Today’s talks were the first since Presidential Emergenc [...]

FRA investigates Ohio train derailment and fire

CantonRep.com reported that Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) inspectors are now analyzing evidence to determine what led to the derailment of eight rail cars in the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway yard in Brewster, Ohio, on Monday, Feb. 1, 2016. Cargo included flammable [...]