News

With 2026 just days away, many of us are thinking about resolutions. These can be small habits that make a big difference over time. SMART-TD encourages every railroad and bus/transit member to adopt (or recommit to) one resolution that has been proven to protect livelihoods, careers, and families:  Keep a complete, accurate, and consistent timebook.  This is not busy work. Keeping accurate records is one of the most powerful tools you can have if…

Monday, December 29, 2025 — Illinois Safety & Legislative Director Bob Guy was on hand for another SMART-TD legislative victory as Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act into law. The NITA Act creates a new $1.5 billion transit authority to oversee CTA, Metra, and Pace. Labor will have a…

A first-of-its-kind rail safety law has officially passed both chambers of the New Jersey Legislature and is now on the Governor’s desk awaiting signature. A-4460, also known as S3389 in the Senate, establishes firm maximum train length limits, addressing the growing dangers posed by excessively long trains. It also enacts strict two-person crew requirements for…

On December 5, 2025, Sister Q. Hamilton (Local 1033, Atlanta), a conductor and yard foreman for CSX, was involved in a life-altering car accident while reporting for an extra board shift at Howell Yard. A single mom, Hamilton was involved in a head-on collision two minutes from the yard office. She sustained a broken hip,…

FRA and SMART-TD Highlight Deadly Risks in Switching Operations WASHINGTON, D.C. — A recent Safety Alert issued by the Switching Operations Fatality Analysis (SOFA) Working Group underscores the very real and ongoing dangers faced by railroad workers during switching operations.   SOFA emphasizes several critical reminders for all railroad employees:   Ensure equipment is clear of adjacent tracks…