Commentary

A second act at STB for Dan Elliott?

Proving once again he has more lives than cartoon character Wile E. Coyote, former Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Dan Elliott is poised to receive his second White House renomination. The first renomination expired with adjournment of the 113th Congress in December after the Senate failed to confirm him. A formal announcement of the second renomination will be made this week.

Commentary

New chiefs ID’d for FRA, AAR law department

As the White House considers candidates for Senate confirmation as the next Federal Railroad Administrator, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx says he will name his Department of Transportation chief of staff Sarah Feinberg — a long-time Democratic operative with strong White House ties — as acting administrator upon the voluntary departure this week of FRA chief Joe Szabo.

Commentary

Hello? It’s Dan Elliott for President Obama

News item: Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Dan Elliott was forced to bid adieu Dec. 31, 2014, after the Senate failed to confirm his renomination. President Obama still could make a recess appointment prior to a Republican controlled Senate sworn-in Jan. 6.

Commentary

“Aw shucks, we’re happy to help”

Ever hear of the Oyster Express? In the midst of a season filled with stories of railroads running special Santa trains all over the country to bring food, clothing, toys, and some Christmas cheer to needy people, a report came across my desk about a partnership involving CSX Transportation, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to restore an “oyster sanctuary.”
Commentary

Old threats from a new Congress

In a twist to 18th century satirist Jonathan Swift’s “Modest Proposal,” National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) President Bruce Carlton suggests shippers consume (as in “eat”) their railroads.
Commentary

Signals lit for Lamphier and company

On a recent drive past BNSF’s Hauser Yard, just a few miles north of my home in Post Falls, Idaho, I noticed the routine glow of signals standing alongside main tracks that lead into the run-through, semi-enclosed refueling facility.
Commentary

STB Chairman Dan Elliott: A Wile E. Coyote existence

Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Dan Elliott, recently remarried and frantic over pending Senate confirmation to a second five-year term, is proving to have more lives than Warner Brothers cartoon character Wile E. Coyote.

Commentary

Canada: Grasping government tightens grip on grain

Canada’s Conservative government extended its takeover of railway grain movements Nov. 29, ordering CN and Canadian Pacific to shift specified quantities of grain each week throughout the winter, or be fined $100,000 per violation.
Commentary

Thanksgiving dinner and more, brought to you by America’s railroads

This Thanksgiving Day, as you sit down with your families to eat a sumptuous meal, think of Hamberger. No, not the hamburgers served by the calorie-laden billions at junk—er, fast—food places like McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, White Castle, etc., but Hamberger, as in Ed, president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads, who on his first day on the job many years ago, hosted a get-together called “hot dogs with Hamberger.”
Commentary

Austin urban rail plan: Behind voters’ rejection

Nov. 4, 2014 (U.S. national election day) was bad news for some important transit ballot measures, but in Austin, Tex., voters’ rejection of a seriously flawed “urban rail” (light rail) plan — by nixing a $600 million General Obligation bonds measure — was a major victory for rail transit.

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