Amtrak

[As published By Edward Wytkind in Huffington Post] On October 2nd, Amtrak reported that four of its century-old underwater rail tunnels in and out of New York City are in need of extensive repairs and that service will be “badly curtailed” — terrible news for both daily commuters and passengers who take 260 million trips a […]

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issued the following statement today about the consideration of the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2014 (PRRIA) by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee: “Today’s approval by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee of the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2014 […]

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I urge your support for the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2014 (PRRIA) when it is considered by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee later this week. This important legislation funds and sustains a key component of our national transportation system, and we commend Chairman Shuster, Ranking Member Rahall, Subcommittee Chairman Denham and Subcommittee Ranking Member Brown for their leadership in crafting this bipartisan, compromise legislation.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issued the following statement today in response to the introduction of the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2014 (PRRIA) by Representatives Bill Shuster, Nick Rahall, Jeff Denham, and Corrine Brown: “The introduction of the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2014 […]

[As published by Keith Laing in The Hill] The House is proposing a 40 percent funding cut for Amtrak construction in a new passenger rail bill that was unveiled on Thursday by the chamber’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Amtrak has traditionally received about $1 billion per year from the federal government since its inception in 1971. Most of the proposed […]

[As published By John Previsich And Edward Wytkind in Times Union] Amtrak links the Hudson Valley to the rest of North America. From Hudson and Albany, you can take the train to western New York, to New York City and to Canada. And people do just that: Last year, Amtrak’s Empire Service alone brought more than […]

Dear Representative: On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I urge you to vote NO on an amendment offered by Rep. Sessions to the pending FY 15 T-HUD bill (H.R. 4745).  This amendment would prohibit funds from going to any Amtrak route which costs exceed two times its revenue, a clear attack on […]

Oppose Broun Amendment to T-HUD Appropriations Bill (H.R. 4745) Dear Representative: On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I write to express opposition to the Broun amendment to H.R. 4745, the House FY 15 T-HUD legislation.  This amendment undermines Amtrak’s ability to provide the rail service that passengers and communities have come to […]

Most Americans are growing accustomed to the visible signs around them of a crumbling, outdated transportation infrastructure. Those who drive between Washington, DC and New York just found out that the bridge over the Christina River near Wilmington, DE is closed indefinitely because of tilted columns. Those who rely on public transit in places like […]

Washington, DC – Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) today commented on the pending markup of the THUD Appropriations bill before the Senate Appropriations Committee: “The Senate transportation funding bill is a solid step forward in meeting our immediate transportation needs and ensuring that we don’t weaken the nation’s fragile economy […]