Roughly every five years, Congress takes up “Surface Reauthorization.” This broad legislative package covers various federal surface transportation programs, including funding and federal policy for highways, transit (including commuter railroads), and passenger and freight rail. The last time Congress delved into Surface Reauthorization was the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) passed in 2021, aka the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which expires in 2026.
The BLET, in conjunction with the Teamsters Rail Conference, submitted to Congress the union’s priorities earlier this spring for the reauthorization of these critical transportation programs and policy directives. Some of BLET’s priorities include:
- Securing comprehensive improvements to freight rail safety
- Establishing a two-person crew legislative requirement
- Banning train crews from Mexico from operating in the United States
- Securing protections against automation, including establishing ongoing manual training requirements as part of the Part 240 certification process
- Addressing remote control operations/remote control locomotives, including banning them from operating on main lines
- Establishing a federal maximum on train length and requiring the FRA to regulate the makeup of trains
- Protecting Amtrak from privatization and increasing funding for Amtrak and other key passenger rail programs
- Addressing “fiscal cliff” funding issues for public transit agencies that threaten commuter rail service and BLET jobs
- Advancing high-speed rail funding and permitting reform so we can build true high-speed rail in this country
Since these priorities were submitted, the BLET, Rail Conference, and Teamsters have been meeting with key Congressional offices to explain BLET’s priorities and ask for their support. These meetings will continue throughout the rest of the year as Congress starts to formally draft the Surface Transportation Reauthorization legislation.