The Association of American Railroads (AAR) released on June 15 its comments filed with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to withdraw its proposed rule mandating two-person crews on railroads.
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) joins the international rail transportation community in educating the public about the dangers of railroad grade crossings during the 8th Annual International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) today, June 10, 2016.
The Transportation Research Board (TRB) is accepting proposals for the Rail Safety IDEA Program, which supports the development and testing of innovative concepts and methods for improving railroad safety or performance. Rail Safety IDEA proposals are due Sept. 15, 2016.
Citing the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) acknowledgement of “little evidence or safety data” in its attempt to mandate two-person train crews, a proposed rule first announced by the FRA in April 2015, Association of American Railroads President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger said, “Safety is this industry’s number one concern, but there is simply no safety case to be made for a regulation that requires two-person crews, especially where Positive Train Control is fully operational.” The rule was published in the Federal Register on March 15, 2016, and public comments are due on May 16.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded nearly $10 million in grants for nine projects in eight states to upgrade and increase the safety of railroad crossings along energy routes, the agency announced Feb. 18, 2016. Rail Program provides the funding under the Railroad Safety Grants for the Safe Transportation of Energy Products (STEP). FRA received 34 eligible applications requesting five times the $10 million available for the program, or $50.8 million.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on Feb. 17, 2016 called on state departments of transportation to verify that railroad crossing warning systems interconnected to traffic lights function properly. The agency also urged states to add event recorders to traffic lights connected to railroad crossing systems so information obtained during inspections can be used to improve safety.
Gilbert Ellzey “Gil” Carmichael, former Federal Railroad Administrator, and founder of the Intermodal Transportation Institute at the University of Denver, died Jan. 31, 2016 at Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian, Miss. He was 88.
The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate passed an omnibus spending bill late last week that will keep federal agencies funded through the end of September 2016.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released a Tier 1 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for NEC FUTURE, FRA’s long-term investment framework for the Northeast Corridor (NEC) between Washington, D.C., and Boston, Mass.
Acting Federal Railroad Administrator Sarah Feinberg will respond to questions before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation at her confirmation hearing to become permanent FRA Administrator on Thursday, Sept.