Tag: passenger rail

Home>News>passenger rail

As working Americans continue getting hammered by higher fuel costs, the federal government is beginning to signal a major retreat from long-term passenger rail investment at exactly the wrong time.

According to Politico Pro’s May 8 Morning Transportation newsletter, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is proposing to eliminate new fiscal year 2027 appropriations for the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program, one of the country’s major passenger rail expansion and modernization programs.

The proposal comes as the massive five-year infrastructure investments passed under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) approach expiration. Rail advocates have increasingly warned the country is heading toward an “investment cliff” once those advance appropriations run out.

The FRA is also proposing reductions to Amtrak funding, including an 8% cut to National Network grants and a 24% reduction to Northeast Corridor grants compared to fiscal year 2026 levels.

Meanwhile, working Americans are dealing with rising transportation costs, economic uncertainty and fuel prices that continue squeezing household budgets. For millions of commuters and working families, passenger rail and public transportation are not political talking points or luxury services. They are financial lifelines and now more than ever.

The debate in Washington is changing

To be clear, passenger rail funding is not disappearing overnight.

The FRA recently opened applications for billions of dollars in remaining IIJA rail grants, including funding for Northeast Corridor improvements, grade crossing safety projects and rail infrastructure upgrades. Those projects are still moving forward under previously authorized funding.

But the direction of the conversation in Washington is unmistakable.

The debate is no longer centered on expanding long-term passenger rail investment. It is increasingly centered on how much support federal leaders are willing to continue once the infrastructure law money expires.

For rail labor and working-class communities, that shift carries enormous consequences.

The concern is not whether rail investment exists today. The concern is whether Washington is preparing to pull back support tomorrow while working Americans are still struggling to afford the cost of getting to work. 

Public transportation Is proving its value

SMART Transportation Division members working commuter rail, passenger rail and transit operations are seeing exactly what happens when fuel prices rise and economic pressure intensifies.

Ridership climbs. Demand grows. Families search for alternatives to expensive daily driving. Communities rely more heavily on systems that reduce congestion, lower commuting costs and keep workers connected to jobs.

That is why many transportation advocates view the proposed future reductions in rail support as dangerously disconnected from our current reality.

“Gas and diesel prices are higher than they’ve been in years. Many of our members drive long distances to get to work, and they are feeling the pain. Experts are saying that these prices are expected to stay high. And as if that’s not bad enough, this administration’s FRA is reportedly looking at reducing passenger rail funding. Calling balls and strikes, this makes no sense for anyone,” said SMART General President Michael Coleman. “At a time when more working Americans are relying on public transit than ever — and when our SMART-TD transit workers are more essential than ever — the last thing we need is uncertainty around public transportation jobs and infrastructure. But that’s exactly what we’re getting. We urge Congress and this administration to change course. Stand with our members and working Americans everywhere, and make it a priority to invest in the public transit systems that support our communities.”

SMART-TD National Safety and Legislative Director Jared Cassity said Washington appears to be ignoring what working families are experiencing every single day.

“You cannot tell Americans to just swallow higher fuel prices while simultaneously backing away from the very transportation systems that help working people survive them,” Cassity said. “That is completely backwards.”

Cassity said commuter rail and passenger rail become more important during periods of economic strain, not less.

“When gas prices spike, public transportation stops being optional for a lot of families,” he said. “Every train carrying workers into cities, every passenger route connecting communities, every transit system helping people avoid another hundred dollars at the pump matters. Pulling back investment now sends the message that Washington either does not understand what working families are dealing with or simply does not care.”

The investment cliff ahead

The FRA’s fiscal year 2027 request illustrates the larger problem now looming over passenger rail nationally.

The agency is requesting $2.79 billion in new budget authority for FY27, but many of the large IIJA advance appropriations that dramatically expanded rail investment over the last several years will no longer be available after fiscal year 2026.

That means Congress is entering a critical fight over whether the country will continue building modern passenger rail infrastructure or allow investment to stall once the temporary infrastructure law funding runs dry.

SMART-TD Deputy National Safety and Legislative Director Don Roach said the timing could not be worse.

“The American people are already telling Washington what happens when transportation costs spiral out of control,” Roach said. “Ridership increases. Demand for public transportation increases. Working people start looking for any way possible to avoid getting crushed by commuting costs.”

Roach said reducing long-term support for passenger rail while families are already struggling financially would be a serious mistake.

“You cannot spend years talking about infrastructure, economic growth and reducing pressure on working families, then start backing away from transportation investment the second people need it the most,” he said. “If Washington allows this momentum to collapse after IIJA expires, the people paying the price will not be politicians. It will be working Americans sitting in traffic longer, paying more at the pump and watching transportation options disappear.”

What comes next

The debate now unfolding in Congress is larger than a single budget cycle.

It is a test of whether federal transportation policy will continue building on recent passenger rail investments or begin retreating from them just as economic conditions are making reliable public transportation more valuable for millions of Americans.

SMART-TD is urging Congress and the Department of Transportation to maintain strong long-term investment in passenger rail, commuter rail and transit infrastructure that keeps working Americans moving safely and affordably.

The country is starting to see what sustained rail investment can accomplish.

The question now is whether Washington intends to continue building on that progress or walk away from it, increasing the power oil companies have over every American. 

CLEVELAND, Ohio (Jan. 13, 2021) — The leaders of two of the nation’s largest railroad worker unions urgently petitioned the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a letter Jan. 13 to enact a “No-Ride List” on passenger rail carriers after the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection in Washington D.C.
The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers — Transportation Division (SMART-TD) and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) demanded that the DHS take immediate executive action to tighten passenger rail security in line with aviation security overseen by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“Even as of this hour, the only real requirement for a person to board a train is simply to have a ticket; nothing more, nothing less. There is no screening process. There is no TSA. And there are no significant statutes or regulations to penalize those willing to interfere with a train’s crew or to do harm on a train, especially not when compared to the airline industry,” Presidents Jeremy R. Ferguson of SMART-TD and Dennis R. Pierce of the BLET said in their emergency order request.
SMART-TD and BLET urge that DHS implement a “No-Ride List” that mirrors FAA’s No Fly List immediately by expanding 49 U.S.C. §114(h) to include the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and passenger rail carriers.
“By granting an extension of the statute and giving access to the FRA and rail carriers, there will be, at minimum, a line of protection against those known to pose a threat from utilizing rail to manipulate the country’s transportation system, and it will mitigate against unwanted, aggressive interaction or attacks on train crews,” the presidents wrote.
The petition to DHS for an emergency order follows a similar petition sent Jan. 11 to FRA urging it to act to prevent security vulnerabilities and to protect those who ride — as well as the essential workers who operate — passenger rail service in and around the nation.
Read the Emergency Order Request (PDF).

# # #

The SMART Transportation Division is comprised of approximately 125,000 active and retired members of the former United Transportation Union, who work in a variety of different crafts, including as bus and commuter rail operators, in the transportation industry.

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen represents nearly 58,000 professional locomotive engineers and trainmen throughout the United States. The BLET is the founding member of the Rail Conference, International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

STB_logoThe Surface Transportation Board released two decisions related to its oversight of Amtrak’s operations under the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA).
First, the Board decided that it would consider on-time arrival and departure at all stations along a passenger train’s route for purposes of assessing on-time performance. The Board will deem a train “on time” if it arrives at, or departs from, a station no more than 15 minutes after its scheduled arrival or departure.
The Board also announced that it is withdrawing its proposed policy statement on issues that may arise, and evidence to be presented in proceedings under PRIIA, in favor of a case-by-case approach to these complex matters.
“Reflecting careful consideration of an extensive public and stakeholder response to our most recent passenger rail proposals, these decisions will better position the Board to implement its responsibilities under the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008,” stated Board Chairman Daniel R. Elliott III. “Improved passenger train on-time performance is an important goal, and the Board’s decisions will support that goal by clarifying the trigger for starting a proceeding, while allowing more complex and detailed issues to be resolved in the context of individual cases.”
Click the link to view the Board’s decision on On-Time Performance Under Section 213 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, Docket No. EP 726.
Click the following link to view the Board’s decision on Policy Statement on Implementing Intercity Passenger Train On-Time Performance and Preference Provisions of 49 U.S.C. § 24308(c) and (f), Docket No. EP 728.

On Friday, July 15, John Risch, National Legislative Director with SMART TD, testified before the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in Washington, DC, in strong support of a minimum two-person crew mandate for freight and passenger trains. It may take months for the FRA board to make a final decision. Read his complete testimony here.  Front page photo: Risch at FRA hearing.
 
 
Risch testimony_FRA_7_18_16
 
 

On March 15th, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a long overdue proposed regulation requiring that most trains in America have a minimum of two crewmembers. While SMART TD supports the core requirements of the rule, we believe that it can be strengthened and improved before this proposed regulation becomes final. We also expect the railroads to do everything in their power to weaken the rule. That is why we need your help. As a railroad worker, you have firsthand knowledge of the importance of two-person crews and the dangers of single-person operations. That is why the FRA needs to hear your voice on this critical safety issue. Please follow this link to submit your own comments on the rule, citing your personal experiences and expertise in operating trains. The most effective thing you can include in your comments is a personal story of how having two people on your crew prevented an accident from happening. It is not necessary to include all the details like train numbers or dates; just an overview of the incident and how having the second crew member made a difference. Examples of how the second crew member cleared a blocked crossing for an emergency vehicle or dealt with emergency responders during a derailment would also be very beneficial. No one can make a stronger case for two-person crews than those who work — or have worked — on the front lines operating trains every day. The deadline for comments has been extended to June 15, 2016 – more time to get your co-workers, friends, family members and community leaders to comment! Thank you for your help with this critically important issue. Below is an excellent example of a comment submitted by retired member Daniel Potaracke from Wisconsin: Agency: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Document Type: Rulemaking Title: Train Crew Staffing Document ID: FRA-2014-0033-0001 Thank You for this opportunity to comment on this important issue. I started on the BNSF RR in 1972 and retired in 2013 after 42 years of service. In 1972, I was one of 5 crew members on a train. When I retired, there were just 2 people on a train, the engineer and I the conductor. I’ve seen lots of changes on the railroad and that is putting it very mildly. With all the technology, you would think it would be safer but, I believe it has actually gotten less safe for a number of reasons. The railroads went from handling and hauling basic cargo and smaller trains to now handling much bigger trains with lots more dangerous cargo in increasing amounts. I remember having “a few” dangerous shipments but, when I retired, I was responsible for having LOTS of dangerous and hazardous cargoes. Just before I retired, I had to sift through lots and lots of paperwork to make sure I had ALL the information and redundancy so if there was a problem, I had some solutions for emergency workers and whomever needed it. I’m not saying it is bad but, making sure I had the paperwork and having someone else to count on made it somewhat better; and, how else are shippers going to transport these dangerous cargoes other than the nations highways? From what I’ve read about the trucking industry, with one person driving a huge truck with dangerous materials and the fatigue the truck drivers put up with, I’m amazed there aren’t more crashes. Having 2 people on a train is definitely much more safe! Having two sets of eyes and ears on the front end of ALL trains is essential for safety for everyone including the public, the employees and the railroads themselves. As a retired BNSF RR conductor, I’ve personally witnessed many “emergency” type incidents that warranted immediate attention and I’m not at all sure that they would have been caught by just one person. Splitting duties in such a way that there are two people onboard makes it easier for one of them to catch a problem vs having one person having so many things to be aware of and all at the same time. I know from personal experience that I’ve averted a few derailments or possible derailments because I’ve caught a problem on either my train or another passing train be it sticking brakes, cracked wheels or hot bearings and shifted loads or other problems. As you know, the railroads carry so many commodities that are very hazardous including oil trains that will burn out of control for days at a time, nuclear waste, chemicals that are certain death with contact or inhalation and munitions and explosives. Having two people on a train can catch a problem before a derailment with any of the above cargoes in a city or even out in the country where winds can blow dangerous inhalations to a city or town. Imagine a burning and exploding oil train in a congested city as big as Chicago or Minneapolis or even a small town where the entire population could be wiped out! We have all seen the images of burning oil trains; now imagine that in the middle of a city with populations living within a few hundred feet! I sometimes wonder if the railroad companies are like the automobile companies that work out the risks or odds of a derailment or toxic release or something similar where they cross their fingers and hope nothing happens but, if something did happen, the chances are 1 in X amount of percent, they could live with that and the resulting monetary damages…or deaths…or whatever. Please keep America safe with the railroads running safe with two people!

While officials in Nashville have committed to a comprehensive transit overhaul, leaders in Syracuse, NY are researching the feasibility of bringing back streetcars. The last time a streetcar graced the streets of Syracuse was 1941. View the complete article at NextCity.org.

Al.com reported that last week, Southern Rail Commissioner, Knox Ross, who is also mayor of Pelahatchie, Miss., accompanied FRA administrator Sarah Feinberg and other federal officials on an Amtrak passenger train ride from New Orleans to Jacksonville, FL, to underscore the widespread support for passenger rail restoration along the Gulf Coast. Read the complete article here.

By John Previsich, president of SMART Transportation Division and Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (www.ttd.org).

Amtrak Passengers Cars-Jim Allen
Photo courtesy of Jim Allen (Local 1400)

Alabamians sure love their college football, but what we’ve just recently learned is that they also like their passenger trains — and they’re willing to pay for them. A recent state-wide poll by DFM Research shows that passenger trains don’t only thrive in the big cities on the corridor between Washington, D.C. and Boston – they are quite popular in the Heart of Dixie, too.

Previsich
Previsich

More than half of those polled in Alabama say they want to see an increase in the service provided by Amtrak, our national passenger railroad. When asked about expanding Amtrak’s once-daily passenger service through Alabama, nearly 85 percent support the idea of adding an additional route from Birmingham or Mobile to New Orleans or Atlanta. This poll shouldn’t surprise anyone given that others in Gulf Coast states are pushing aggressively to restart Amtrak service lost after the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

The people of Alabama aren’t alone in their views. All across the country, in red states and blue, in rural counties and major metropolitan cities, Americans are calling for more passenger rail service — and it’s easy to see why. With 31 million passengers last year alone, Amtrak’s popularity has soared, and over the last decade, Amtrak has broken its ridership record almost annually. Here’s the best part: during a time when pollsters are churning out the views of voters on a daily basis, our national passenger railroad actually polls better than anyone auditioning for president.

Wytkind
Wytkind

All jokes aside, this begs one very important question — if Amtrak is so highly valued by the American people, why do we still have politicians in Washington trying to kill it? Yes, there was actually an amendment on floor of the House late last year to eliminate Amtrak’s funding and quite a few who serve in Alabama’s congressional delegation voted for it. To be clear, such a plan would bankrupt the railroad, strand riders in Alabama and across the country, and put thousands of middle class employees out of work. And think about this: while other nations such as China are racing toward launching 400 mile-per-hour train service, America is still electing politicians who want to abandon passenger rail entirely.

If people in Alabama knew this, we’re sure they would be asking why their politicians are not listening. Most voters in the state think any attempt to eliminate federal funding for Amtrak is a terrible idea. When told that Amtrak receives over $1 billion per year in federal support, 75 percent say they reject attempts to eliminate it and want funding to continue at current levels.

It seems people in Alabama understand what some in Congress do not: that rail transportation is vitally important to our nation’s economy. Long-term economic growth cannot happen without a greatly enhanced transportation infrastructure, and that includes expanding passenger rail services.

Supporting a healthy economy also involves making sure rail transportation is safe, so it’s no surprise that people in this state emphatically favor policies that do just that.

Like a super-majority of Americans polled across a wide swatch of our country,  the people of Alabama believe that running 19,000-ton freight trains — many containing hazardous materials — with only one crew member is a bad idea.  That’s why nearly 90 percent of residents support legislation mandating a minimum of two crew members on all freight trains. Since Amtrak shares tracks with freight trains in most parts of the country, the crew sizes used in freight operations will also affect the safety of passenger trains.

America can’t compete in a global economy without fully-funded national passenger rail service and modernized infrastructure to boot. That takes long-term investment by the federal government, in partnership with states and the private sector. We also need to make sure that our freight rail system, which provides the track for much of Amtrak’s service, is safe and adequately staffed.

Alabamians agree with people from California to Florida and most stops in between: our country needs modern and reliable rail transportation with the resources to pay for it and the federal rules to ensure its safety.

This article originally appeared on AL.com.

FRA_logo_wordsCINCINNATI — The Federal Railroad Administration will soon take a good, hard look at how Amtrak could better serve the Midwest with interstate passenger rail transit, and local leaders are saying it will take Cincinnati one step closer toward daily rail service to Chicago.

In an announcement sent to Congressional leaders last week, the FRA announced it will spend nearly $3 million dollars on a planning initiative to bolster passenger rail service in the Midwest and Southeast regions.

Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana will all have a stake in that plan, along with 10 other states.

Read more from WCPO.com.