Rail

A poll conducted by a transportation union found that 58 percent of voters in Kentucky have a favorable opinion of Amtrak. The poll, which was conducted by the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) union, found voters in Kentucky supported Amtrak by a 58percent to 10 percent margin, despite the rail company having few […]

Members of Congress responsible for our nation’s transportation systems, including our national passenger rail system, are once again considering the reauthorization of Amtrak. The choice is clear: give Amtrak the resources it needs, or choose the routine ritual of starving it and wondering why we don’t have faster trains and more service. As a backdrop, […]

[By Progressive Railroading]   Leaders of the AFL-CIO transportation unions have called on Congress to establish a long-term strategy for Amtrak that will meet demands for growing ridership, invest in the railroad’s decaying equipment and network, protect workers’ rights and jobs, and reject “risky” privatization of key routes and services. The Transportation Trades Department AFL-CIO‘s (TTD) Executive Committee […]

For ordinary, common-sense Americans, the 113th Congress has a lot to prove.  Will our lawmakers finally reject the corrosive politics that values gridlock and inaction over progress, or remain stuck behind those who say any bipartisan agreement for the good of the country is, by definition, a defeat? When it comes to our passenger rail […]

 ORLANDO, FL—As lawmakers prepare to debate passenger rail reauthorization, leaders of AFL-CIO transportation unions are calling on Congress to set a long-term future for Amtrak that meets the demands of a growing ridership, invests in the railroad’s decaying equipment and network, protects the rights and jobs of workers and rejects “risky” privatization of key routes […]

Rep. John Mica (R-FL) continued his “holy jihad” against Amtrak, its 30 million riders and thousands of employees last week by holding his 10th hearing in the 112th Congress  demonizing Amtrak. The last three by the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee focused on what Mica thinks is wasteful Amtrak spending.  Speaking of waste, let me […]

Tonight Americans will hear about moving forward with an economy that is “built to last” at the Democratic National Convention.  No doubt anyone watching will hear plenty about how the President has focused his energy on expanding the middle class – from saving the auto industry to ensuring America has the world’s finest transportation system […]

I’ve been listening to some absurd attacks this week by Mitt Romney and his surrogates against President Obama – the latest a claim that Obama is saying Henry Ford didn’t build Ford Motors or Papa John didn’t build Papa John’s, the government did. Here is what the President actually said:  “If you were successful, somebody […]

A move by a House Republican amidst surface transportation funding bill negotiations shows yet again why most Americans are shaking their heads in disgust and preparing to clean house this fall by electing members of Congress who care about the middle class. As conferees haggle over the much-needed surface transportation funding bill, Rep. Paul Broun […]

Last night news broke of a Senate agreement to finally move on the long-delayed surface transportation funding bill.  This is good news – hopefully we have broken through the logjam and have a chance to finally fix and modernize our deteriorating transit and rail systems and roads and bridges, and put people to work. With […]