• (Politico) Seattle late last week filed a federal lawsuit against DOT and the FTA over their implementation of a January executive order that instructed agencies to make sure grant recipients don’t have diversity, equity or inclusion programs.

• Former Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.) has been confirmed by the Senate to be the Federal Transit Administration’s new administrator.

• (Kaplan Kirsch) This week the Surface Transportation Board granted a motion to dismiss the Sunset Limited case between Amtrak and Union Pacific given the fact that parties settled the matter. CRC members may recall that the Coalition had submitted comments to the proceeding. CRC argued that (1) Amtrak’s preference was limited to freight transportation and did not extend to passenger transportation, (2) the STB cannot order relief against non-host passenger railroads, (3) many of Amtrak’s recommendations were overbroad and would improperly affect commuter railroads, and (4) Amtrak’s proposed definition of “host railroad” improperly swept in commuter railroads that lacked dispatching control. NICTD, SEPTA and MBTA raised similar arguments.

  The termination of the proceeding ends the STB’s chance to address these comments and means that there is still not an authoritative statement confirming that Amtrak does not have preference over commuter railroads. Although Amtrak stated in its Rebuttal that it “is not arguing that [its] statutory right to preference over freight transportation under Section 24308(c) also provides Amtrak with statutory preference rights over commuter rail,” it did not go so far as to acknowledge that CRC, NICTD, SEPTA, and MBTA are correct.

CROG: COMMUTER RAIL OPERATORS GROUP

Agency Chief Operating Officers, vehicle maintenance leaders and contractors, supply chain professionals, OEM representatives, suppliers, and others have participated in CROG over the past 26 years. With agencies hosting the twice-yearly meetings, there is no fee for participation; attendees assume responsibility for their own travel, accommodation and incidentals.

The group is governed by a council of commuter rail agency leaders who serve on a three-year rotating basis as Vice Chair, Chair, and Past Chair. Industry veteran Bruce Cardon (Northstar) has led CROG since 2021, and the time has come to identify the next generation of CROG leaders.

The Commuter Rail Coalition is committed to supporting the continuity of this essential group and on CROG’s behalf is actively recruiting candidates to lead CROG into the future. If you have a personal interest in serving or would like to recommend someone from your team, please reach out to Bruce Cardon.

CROG’s next meeting is due to be hosted by Bruce Cardon and Northstar Commuter Rail October 9 & 10, 2025.

EARLY-BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS IN 1 WEEK.
REGISTER TODAY.

WHAT WE’RE READING

• As traffic worsens, why is the state making commuting harder in South Florida? (Miami Herald)

• Federal Funding for Intercity Rail – A Primer (ENO Center for Transportation)

• SEPTA announces new schedules with 20% service cuts that could take effect within weeks (CBS Philadelphia)

• Metro Transit slated to end Northstar train service in January (FOX 9 KMSP)

• NYU Marron Institute Hosts Nolan Hicks on Momentum Transit Infrastructure Framework (YouTube)