Amtrak operates in New York State over parts of the federally designated intercity passenger rail network, while state law restricts MTA’s operational jurisdiction to specific areas.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is backing off of a misguided plan to run Metro-North commuter trains on Amtrak territory, a move that would have resulted in job losses for members of the BLET.
It was a team effort that led to this reversal and a win for BLET. After Amtrak General Chairman Pat Darcy sounded the alarm about a plan that would violate federal and state laws related to passenger rail as well as BLET’s collective bargaining agreement with Amtrak, BLET National President Mark Wallace reached out to the Federal Railroad Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and spoke to Amtrak President Roger Harris. The BLET President also connected with the governor’s staff and in his capacity as President of the Teamsters Rail Conference wrote a letter to Hochul. A copy of the letter can be found here (PDF). Meanwhile, BLET members were encouraged to join a “Take Action” campaign through the National Division website to educate New York legislators about the negative repercussions of the move.
BLET National Vice President Jim Louis, who is assigned to assist BLET’s commuter rail General Committees of Adjustment, said through the Take Action effort more than 650 communications were sent to state representatives throughout the affected service areas of New York.
As further background, New York State announced plans to extend Metro-North service north of Poughkeepsie into Albany. BLET argued that this change in service is not allowed under New York Public Authorities Law, specifically §§1262, 1263, 1264, and 1266(e), which strictly limits the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) jurisdiction to the boundaries of the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District. Albany, Rensselaer, and every community north of Dutchess County fall outside that district, by law. This corridor between Poughkeepsie and Albany, which has been operated by Amtrak for decades, is also part of the federally designated intercity passenger rail network under 49 U.S.C. §24701, giving Amtrak exclusive right to operate this service.
“The BLET played offense this time and it helped protect the jobs of our Brothers and Sisters in Division 752,” said General Chairman Darcy.
Metro-North is operated by the MTA. BLET is currently engaged in an ongoing dispute at the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), also operated by MTA. Bargaining as part of a coalition with four other rail unions, BLET last month requested a second Presidential Emergency Board to help settle the dispute.