WASHINGTON ROUND-UP

• USDOT’s second deferred resignation offer expired Tuesday night. Per Politico, “One agency employee, who is taking the offer, said that people with less than three years of federal service are being told by DOT to strongly consider leaving.”

• The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday paused a California federal court order reinstating probationary federal workers who were fired by the Trump administration. And on Wednesday an appeals court affirmed that the Trump administration can proceed with the firing of probationary federal employees, citing that the nonprofit organizations that challenged the action had no standing.

• Organized labor is looking to block Secretary Duffy from excluding DOT agencies from laws that would allow employees to collectively bargain.

• The White House is Directing the Repeal of Unlawful Regulations

DUFFY VISITS UTAH,
RIDES FRONTRUNNER

USDOT Secretary Sean Duffy was in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Monday to talk with the state’s transportation department and ride UTA’s FrontRunner commuter rail train. Seen here with Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, Duffy also met with Rep. Celeste Maloy and other state leaders and transportation officials.

More on the visit:

• Federal FrontRunner funding remains in flux as US transportation secretary visits Utah (ksl.com)

• All aboard! Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s ride on Utah’s FrontRunner (msn.com)

• Secretary Duffy visits Utah, observes transit & infrastructure (Fox 13 Utah Youtube)

HOUSE T&I LAUNCHES
REAUTHORIZATION PROCESS

Represented by Rich Dalton, CEO of Virginia Railway Express, the CRC this week participated in a stakeholder listening session organized by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

As the subcommittee prepares for the next surface transportation reauthorizing legislation, Republican and Democratic staff together hosted the session to learn about passenger rail priorities. In his prepared remarks, Dalton focused on two imperatives: to modify the implementation timeline of the excess liability cap and creating access to a discretionary grant program to fund commuter railroads’ significant capital infrastructure requirements.

The Committee has requested stakeholders submit their formal legislative proposals by month’s end, and announced that they will solicit the same from Members of Congress throughout May.

Cathy Rinaldi has joined former NY MTA Chairman Tom Prendergast at the Gateway Development Corporation, where she will serve as the GDC’s executive vice president.

Rinaldi retired last week as president of Metro-North Railroad. She is a former member of the Commuter Rail Coalition board of directors; Prendergast is a CRC founder.

Virginia Railway Express can expect a lower insurance bill this year following action in the state house. Senate Bill 1269, signed into law on March 19, impacts insurance policies purchased by VRE.

According to Director of Government and Community Affairs Joe Swartz, VRE, which is otherwise exempt from paying taxes, has been reimbursing close to $100,000 a year for taxes paid by their insurance broker.

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR
CRC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

An engaged and active board of directors is essential to the success of any association.  More than simply ensuring good governance, the Commuter Rail Coalition’s board is the voice of stakeholders, representing the interests and needs of the industry as the CRC channels those interest into advocacy.

As the Coalition embarks on its seventh year representing commuter rail, it is imperative that its board of directors is filled with forward-thinking leaders who can help the association plan for and navigate the myriad challenges facing the industry.

The nominations process closes Friday, April 25.  If you are interested in serving or simply curious, please reach out to learn more.

WHAT WE’RE READING

• Momentum (transit costs report)

• How Japan Built a 3D-Printed Train Station in 6 Hours (The New York Times)

• Tri-Rail Ridership Continues Growth in 2025 (Metro-Magazine)

• Caltrain ridership gets big uptick since electric trains introduced (TransitTalent)

• The rise of the super commuter – why NYC workers choose to live in Philly (Metro Philadelphia)

• Texas Republicans take aim at public transit in two major cities (The Texas Tribune)

• California commuter rail line now uses artificial intelligence, Lidar to detect trespassers (Newsbreak)

• NICTD Eyeing Late August/Early September Opening Date for West Lake Corridor Project (RT&S)

• Rail expansion expected to link Fort Worth’s TEXRail with Dallas, Denton systems (Fort Worth Report)

• The Untapped Potential of America's Rail Infrastructure (Bloomberg UK)

• SEPTA service would be cut nearly in half under new budget proposal if more funding not secured (6 ABC Action News)

• SEPTA plans to cut service on dozens of routes and may lay off staff amid funding crisis (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

• MassDOT CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt wants to connect the Commonwealth (SmartCitiesDive)