Cory Martin
Illinois State Legislative Board Chairman
2016 BLET Scholarship Directory
http://www.ble-t.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=5803 CLEVELAND, January 29 — Each year, the BLET National Division compiles a list of scholarship opportunities available to the children of BLET members. Numerous financial aid opportunities are published here in the 2016 BLET Scholarship Directory. The scholarship opportunities vary widely. The following comprehensive list provides members and their families with contact information for each scholarship program. The BLET National Division does...
BLET prepares to move into new headquarters
http://www.ble-t.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=5798 CLEVELAND, January 15 - Renovations are proceeding rapidly at the BLET's new headquarters in Independence, Ohio, and the National Division expects to be moved in by early to mid-March. The BLET sold the historic Standard Building to Weston, a real estate development group, in mid-2014. One of the stipulations of the sale was the BLET would lease back space in the Standard Building for up to three years. Fortunately, construction at the new...
Illinois State Legislative Board accepting applications for Don Little Memorial Scholarship
The BLET’s Illinois State Legislative Board is currently accepting applications for its Don Little Memorial Scholarship Fund, which was established in 2013. One $1,000 and two $500 scholarships will be awarded to applicants whose parent or guardian is a BLET member in good standing with a BLET Local Division represented by the Illinois State Legislative Board. Applicants must be 26 years of age or younger. Brother Don Little was a locomotive engineer with Metra commuter rail in Chicago and...
Merry Christmas
THE TRAIN CREW The seven steel-ribbed coaches Draw smoothly to the shed. And you and other passengers Now hurry home to bed; You've done your easy hundred miles In ninety minutes clear— Then thank the man who brought you, The old gray engineer, Your hope, your love, your children, The prayers that you have prayed, Lie in his faithful fingers On trestle, curve and grade; By crossing, draw and culvert His leaping engine roars, And clear as altar lamps he sees The green lit semaphores. Unthanked...
Durbin, Illinois representatives concerned about proposed CP-NS merger
12/15/2015 U.S. Sen. Dick Durban (D-Ill.) and other congressional representatives of Illinois are registering concern with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) over Canadian Pacific's proposed takeover of Norfolk Southern Corp. In a letter sent yesterday to STB Chairman Daniel Elliott III and board members, Durbin and others leaders asked the STB to consider the economic impact such a merger would have on the Chicago area. "We urge you to carefully review any plans submitted to the STB, and...
TEAMSTERS STATEMENT ON SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHOOTING
Teamsters Statement on San Bernardino County Shooting - paul.piekarski@gmail.com - Gmail Union Mourns the Loss of Victims, Vital Members of the San Bernardino Community (WASHINGTON) – The Teamsters Union is deeply saddened by the tragic event in San Bernardino County, Calif., which has taken the lives of 14 people, injured 21 and shaken the community at large. As the news continues to unfold, we are saddened to learn that some of the victims were members of Teamsters Local 1932. “Today is a...
Kirk, Durbin Announce Veterans Day Moment of Silence Bill Passes Senate Unanimously
S. 1004 Would Establish Two Minutes of Silence on Veterans Day to Honor Those Who Served Wednesday, Nov 11, 2015 WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) yesterday announced their bipartisan Veterans Day Moment of Silence Act passed the Senate unanimously. The bill, S. 1004, would direct the President to call on the U.S. to observe two minutes of silence on Veterans Day in honor of those who served our country. “Veterans Day is an opportunity to reflect on...
House Approves Extension of Surface Transportation Programs and Positive Train Control Deadli
Washington, DC, Oct 28 The House of Representatives yesterday approved bipartisan legislation that funds and extends the authorization for federal highway and transit programs through November 20th, and that prevents a shutdown of the U.S. rail transportation system by extending the deadline for implementation of Positive Train Control technology. The Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2015 (H.R. 3819) was introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster...
Short-term funding measure includes PTC deadline extension
HR 1763 is expected to be marked up this week. House GOP leaders late last week unveiled a measure that would extend federal transportation funding for three weeks. The current legislation is set to expire on Thursday. The extension would enable House leaders to finish work on a six-year, $325 billion transportation funding bill (H.R. 3763) that the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved Oct. 22. Additionally, the measure includes a provision that would extend to 2018 the...
IDOT Public Meetings
Reminder remaining schedule: IDOT Announces Multi-Year Program Public Meetings Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn announced that the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is asking the public to participate in meetings being held throughout the state to help develop the upcoming Fiscal Year 2017-2022 Multi-Year Program (MYP). The following meetings are scheduled: Oct. 14, 2015* 1-4 p.m. Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) Willis Tower 233 S. Wacker Dr. #800...
NTSB surveys Norfolk Southern employees on company’s safety culture
NTSB surveys Norfolk Southern employees on company's safety culture The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting a survey of Norfolk Southern Railway's workforce to evaluate the Class I's safety culture. The survey is part of the NTSB's special investigation...
Freight railroads ask courts to throw out new rule requiring two-person crews on trains
Freight railroads ask courts to throw out new rule requiring two-person crews on trains Four railroads have asked federal appeals courts to throw out a new rule that would require two-person train crews in most circumstances, saying the mandate is arbitrary,...
NTSB Releases December 2022 NS Accident Report
NTSB Releases December 2022 NS Accident Report The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on April 9 issued the final report for its investigation of a Dec. 13, 2022, accident, in which a Norfolk Southern (NS) employee was killed and another injured when a...
CTA Says Red Line Extension a ‘Top Priority’ for Biden Administration, on Track to Begin Construction Next Year
CTA Says Red Line Extension a ‘Top Priority’ for Biden Administration, on Track to Begin Construction Next Year Chicago Transit Authority President Dorval Carter said the agency is on track to hit a major milestone in the Red Line Extension project by the end of the...
Elon Musk Wants to Gut the National Labor Relations Act
Elon Musk hates unions, with a white-hot passion that has rendered him delusional. In late November, at a New York Times DealBook Summit where the aspiring-to-be-rich gather to get pointers from the actually rich, the Tesla CEO explained that “I disagree with the idea...
Norfolk Southern rolls out productivity, accountability plans
Norfolk Southern rolls out productivity, accountability plans Norfolk Southern Corp. yesterday announced new initiatives the company says are designed to drive productivity and accountability. The initiatives will empower recently appointed Chief Operating Officer...
As head of the Federal Railroad Administration, Amitabha Bose is driving an increase in safety precautions and overseeing unprecedented rail investments through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Around half a million railroad carloads of freight are...
US Senate to consider nomination of NTSB chair for new term
US Senate to consider nomination of NTSB chair for new term WASHINGTON, April 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee will hold an April 10 hearing on the nomination of Jennifer Homendy to serve a new term as chair of the National Transportation Safety Board....
DOT Inspector General finds flaws in FRA’s efforts to address Hours of Service compliance, worker fatigue
DOT Inspector General finds flaws in FRA’s efforts to address Hours of Service compliance, worker fatigue WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration’s efforts to address Hours of Service compliance and worker fatigue are hampered by a lack of procedures and...
U.S. issues rule requiring at least two people on longest freight trains
U.S. issues rule requiring at least two people on longest freight trains The Biden administration on Tuesday required the largest freight railroads to operate their trains with at least two people on board, seeking to improve rail safety with a new mandate that...