In June, unions representing a wide range of crafts of railroad workers testified before the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on the state of the rail workforce and worker safety in the industry. Without fail, each labor witness spoke to safety issues that freight carriers and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) are at best choosing to ignore, and at worst actively exacerbating.
“I’m not sure where the source comes from that I’m hostile to Amtrak … simply because I voted no on some funding votes.” – Todd Rokita, July 24, 2019 That was the response former Congressman Todd Rokita gave to lawmakers when they questioned why he repeatedly voted to defund Amtrak, our national passenger rail network, […]
The belief that the carrier’s regional expansion must come at the expense of its national network isn’t just concerning – this idea goes against Amtrak’s own mission and purpose.
By classifying themselves as technology companies, ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft are able to profit off a lack of regulatory compliance and sub-standard wages, all while undermining traditional transportation options.
On Thursday, June 20, rail unions, including many TTD affiliates, will testify before Congress about the most pressing safety issues facing the industry and its workforce today. From recent decisions by the FRA to pressures from Wall Street that threaten safety, here is a preview of what will be discussed.
Our federal government recently prioritized the profits of the freight rail industry over safety by refusing to set standards for crew train size. The same agency — the federal railroad administration — also declared state laws that do set crew size null and void, paving the way for freight trains, which can be up to […]
The result of federal inaction and the misuse of funds is a sense that the days of doing big things are behind us. Our roads are crumbling. Our transit systems are struggling to drive strong demand. Our seaports are unequipped to accommodate growth in the movement of freight. Our airports are congested and flights are delayed. We look across the oceans at our greatest competitors and wonder why we cannot find the will to make the same investments they make in 21st century infrastructure.