CLEVELAND, March 26 — The City of San Francisco adopted a resolution on March 16 opposing remote control locomotives and calling on the Federal Railroad Administration to develop comprehensive guidelines governing use of the technology. The same resolution was adopted by the county of San Francisco.
According to BLET California State Legislative Board Chairman Tim Smith, the passage of the resolution was the result of hard work by two BLET Division 65 officers, Legislative Representative Sean Morgan and Local Chairman Martin Jaeger.
“These two BLET officers represent the interests primarily of Amtrak and Cal-Train,” said Chairman Smith. “They are an example of how our Brotherhood should work. As the saying goes, ‘One for All and All for One’ …our battles are the BLET’s battles, to fight together.”
Chairman Smith also thanked the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and Supervisor Sophie Maxwell for passing the resolution.
In addition to San Francisco, 36 U.S. cities have adopted similar resolutions: Baton Rouge, La.; Detroit, Mich.; Shreveport, La.; Marysville, Mich.; Boston, Mass.; Cleveland, Ohio; Pine Bluff, Ark.; North Little Rock, Ark.; Beardstown, Ill.; Bakersfield, Calif.; Woodbridge, N.J.; Maple Heights, Ohio; Alliance, Neb.; Evansville, Ind.; Dupo, Ill.; Durand, Mich; Flat Rock, Mich.; Woodhaven, Mich; Flint, Mich.; Sparks, Nev.; Commerce, Calif.; Clinton, Iowa; Montebello, Calif.; Saginaw, Mich.; Mankato, Minn.; Wamac, Ill.; St. Louis, Mo.; River Rouge, Mich.; Melvindale, Mich.; Redford Township, Mich.; Irvington, Ill.; Berwyn, Ill.; Allen Park, Mich.; Central City, Ill.; Carteret, N.J.; and Toledo, Ohio.
Also, 14 counties have passed similar remote control resolutions. They are: Douglas County, Wisc.; West Baton Rouge Parish, La.; Point Coupee Parish, La.; Cuyahoga County, Ohio; Huron County, Ohio; Erie County, Ohio; Whitley County, Ky.; Unicoi County, Tenn.; Contra Costa County, Calif.; Knox County, Tenn.; Clinton, County, Iowa; Harris County, Texas; Roanoke County, Va.; and Greenup County, Ky.
A PDF of the San Francisco resolution is available at:
http://www.ble.org/pr/pdf/sanfrancisco.pdf