Transit

  In 1955, the city bus became a symbol of segregation and defiance when civil rights activist Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in the “colored” section of a Montgomery, Alabama bus to a white passenger.  We know the story well: She was arrested, her actions led to what is historically regarded as […]

For too long, federal policy has failed to support the training needs of America’s frontline transit and commuter rail workforces — a need that is more important than ever in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to the efforts and leadership of Reps. Anthony Brown (D-MD) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), we now have an […]

Many transit workers still do not have the personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning supplies, or adequate direction from their employers to ensure their health and safety, or the health and safety of their families. In cities like New York, Boston, Chicago, or Detroit, transit workers are literally putting their lives on the line to keep America moving. These workers are becoming sick and, in some cases, tragically dying at alarming rates.

Bringing the perspective of nearly 400,000 frontline workers who build, operate, and maintain our nation’s transit systems to the Senate Banking Committee’s hearing on transit reauthorization earlier this week, TTD President Larry Willis called on lawmakers to both increase investments in public transportation and support legislative solutions that would secure good, safe jobs in this sector.

April 28 is Workers Memorial Day, a day to remember and honor those who lost their lives or have been injured at work. For the men and women who keep America moving, this holiday is especially poignant. Working on the frontlines of our transportation system is never without risk. Whether working with heavy equipment and […]

When Diane Rude accepted a position as a Minneapolis bus driver, she thought she was signing up for a good, middle-class job that would allow her to take care of her family and save for retirement. She never expected to have to fight for her life. But that’s what happened when a troubled passenger wrapped […]

The New York Times recently profiled the story — or the commute, rather — of Sheila James, a 61-year-old federal office worker who lives in Stockton, California, but works 80 miles away in San Francisco. She rises at 2 a.m. so she can catch a bus and two trains to get to her job as a […]

While public transit continues to be a lifeline for millions of Americans, too many transit agencies nationwide are failing with upkeep and modernization efforts and thus experiencing system failures. That isn’t just my opinion — the American Society of Civil Engineers gave transit a grade of D- in their 2017 report card. The demand for public transit […]

Last week, lawmakers in the House of Representatives did something we haven’t seen them do in a long time — they passed a long-term surface transportation bill that both Republicans and Democrats support. Because the Senate passed its own version of a surface transportation bill already, Congress may actually be poised to complete the first […]

Too often Washington is a place where all good ideas go to die and where bad ideas flourish. The latest bad idea? Some in the commercial motor vehicle industry are pressuring Congress to undermine scientists and established protocol in order to allow the industry to use an unsubstantiated form of drug testing: hair specimen testing. […]