Transportation News

Visit the digital archive of the SMART-TD News (PDFs)

Annual San Luis Obispo/UP barbecue is Aug. 2

The San Luis Obispo Annual Union Pacific Railroad Barbecue will be held Saturday, August 2, at 1 p.m. at Cuesta Park, located at 2400 Loomis St. This barbecue is a joint event sponsored by UP, SMART Transportation Division Local 98 at San Luis Obispo and SMART Transportation [...]

Mo. Supreme Court rules FELA awards not taxable

In cases brought by the law firm of Schlichter, Bogard & Denton, LLP of St. Louis on behalf of injured railroad workers, two courts have ruled favorably to workers that FELA judgments are not subject to tax withholding under the Railroad Retirement Tax Act (RRTA). The Mis [...]

Cuomo: LIRR strike is 'just not an option'

A potential strike by the unions representing Long Island Rail Road workers would be a “terrible failure by both the unions and the MTA,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement Wednesday. MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast was in Washington on Wednesday to meet with t [...]

Benefits for Railroad Retirement employees

The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) administers the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, which provides two kinds of benefits for qualified railroaders: unemployment benefits for those who become unemployed but are ready, willing and able to work; and sickness benefits for th [...]

Cuomo could be key to preventing LIRR strike

ALBANY, N.Y. – As the labor dispute at the Long Island Rail Road heads toward its final innings, some officials are beginning to look to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, whom they see as the Mariano Rivera of political closers. “His track record on these matters is very good,̶ [...]

Former LIRR president Williams remains on payroll

At least one Long Island Rail Road employee has gotten a good deal from the MTA recently. With unionized LIRR workers readying for a possible strike next month, the Daily News has learned that the railroad’s former president, Helena Williams, who was fired two months ago, rem [...]

Illinois, UP announce Metra improvements

BELLWOOD, Ill. — Governor Pat Quinn June 27 was joined by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Union Pacific Railroad President and COO Lance Fritz to announce that the Union Pacific (UP) and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) are making a significant inv [...]

FRA issues ROD for Calif. high-speed train section

WASHINGTON – The U. S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) June 27 issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for the 114-mile Fresno to Bakersfield Section of the California High-Speed Train System. The ROD is the last step in the National Environment [...]

Penn. SLD Pokrowka seeks support of energy bill

SMART Transportation Division Pennsylvania State Legislative Director Paul Pokrowka is asking members and their families in the state to contact their representatives in the state House of Representatives and ask for their support of House Bill 2345. The Pennsylvania Greenhou [...]

Thousands turn out for LIRR labor rally

On Saturday June 21, more than 3,000 unionized Long Island Rail Road workers and their supporters rallied for a new contract Saturday, June 21, demonstrating their resolve in achieving the recommendations of Presidential Emergency Board 245. Union officials from a variety of [...]