Legislation
Fourteen states, D.C. sue USDOT over LNG-by-rail rule
(Source: Progressive Railroading 08/19/2020) Citing health and safety concerns, a coalition of attorneys general representing 14 states and the District of Columbia yesterday filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Transportation over a new rule that would allow for bulk transportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by rail. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), in consultation…
Read MoreStudy shows major diversion of freight from rail to roads if bigger trucks allowed
(Source: Progressive Railroading 07/14/2020) A new report commissioned by the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (CABT) highlights how legislation allowing bigger and heavier trucks on the nation’s highways would result in a “major diversion” of freight from rail to roads. The study shows some scenarios in which intermodal traffic would be reduced by 20 percent to 25 percent…
Read MoreBLET members urged to act on INVEST in America Act
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, June 25 — Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, BLET Auxiliary, retirees, and their family members are urged to contact their legislators in the U.S. House of Representatives in support of the INVEST in America Act. Formally titled the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation…
Read MoreLaHood, Rendell urge Congress to include infrastructure in next stimulus bill
(Source: Progressive Railroading 05/06/2020) Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell earlier this week called on Congress to include transportation infrastructure investment in the next federal COVID-19 stimulus legislation. On May 4, LaHood and Rendell — as co-chairs of Building America’s Future — wrote to congressional leaders to urge the creation of a…
Read MoreUnions to FRA: Railroads must recall furloughed workers before seeking safety waivers
(Source: Progressive Railroading 04/14/2020) A coalition of rail labor organizations is asking the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to ensure freight railroads are recalling furloughed workers before seeking waivers from federal safety regulations. In an April 9 letter to Federal Railroad Administrator Ronald Batory, the unions said there “must be a strong burden of proof for rail carriers to demonstrate…
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