Jumat, 30 September 2016

Feds investigating Hoboken crash - Politico

With help from Lauren Gardner, Eric Wolff and Doug Palmer

FEDS INVESTIGATING HOBOKEN CRASH: One of the big questions FRA and NTSB officials will be asking in coming days is whether Positive Train Control could have prevented a commuter train from smashing into the New Jersey Transit station in Hoboken, N.J., during Thursday's morning rush hour, killing a woman on the platform and injuring more than 100 others. The other, of course, is what led to the wreck. No public explanation of cause was given by authorities on Thursday, as investigators worked to determine whether the engineer was at fault or if a mechanical failing or other circumstances beyond his control were to blame.

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The rundown on PTC: None of NJ Transit's trains contain full PTC functionality. It petitioned FRA for an exception from PTC requirements for the Hoboken terminal in 2010, as our Lauren Gardner reported[1]. Federal officials granted the request. The law allows railroads to ask for exemptions from PTC installation mandates on certain track segments. For passenger terminals, railroads must show that trains won't travel more than 20 miles per hour in the area — and that onboard PTC equipment will control for speed despite the absence of wayside signals. Railroads also have to demonstrate that trains will abide b y interlocking rules that forbid reverse movements without an OK from signals or dispatchers, and that they won't share tracks with freight operations.

Waiting for the facts: White House spokesman Josh Earnest and the governors of New York and New Jersey struck a cautious tone[2] on the PTC question Thursday. "Once we have the facts, if there is a lesson to learn, we will learn it," N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

Train was moving too fast: "The train came in at a high rate of speed, and the question is 'Why is that?'" said N.J. Gov. Chris Christie. "We won't know that for some time." Bella Dinh-Zarr, the NTSB member leading the board's investigation, said the speed limit heading into the station is 10 miles per hour. The train was eight minutes late and never decelerated in the moments before it crashed into a concrete and steel bumper, The New York Daily News reported[3], citing authorities.

IT'S FRIDAY: Good morning and thanks for tuning in to POLITICO's Morning Transportation, your daily tipsheet on all things trains, planes, automobiles and ports.

Please send tips, feedback and, of course, song lyrics to bgurciullo@politico.com[4] or @brigurciullo[5].

"Headed down south to the land of the pines. I'm thumbin' my way into North Carolina. Starin' up the road and pray to God I see headlights."[6]

Want to keep up with all of MT's song picks? Follow our Spotify playlist[7].

HOBOKEN IMPLICATIONS: Many lawmakers reacting to the news Thursday lamented that the crash may have been preventable — and some called for more investment in technology like PTC.

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), a member of the House Transportation Committee: "While we are just beginning to learn the cause of this crash, it appears that, once again, an accident was not prevented because the trains our commuters were riding lacked positive train control — the longer we fail to prioritize investing in rail safety technology, the more innocent lives we put in jeopardy."

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development: "If safety mechanisms like positive train control could have stopped the train in its tracks, then Congress' continued foot dragging on rail investment is all the more outrageous."

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee: "There is an urgent need to invest in rail safety nationwide, including technology like Positive Train Control, as well as new equipment and better training. Having advocated and fought for Positive Train Control and opposed delays in requiring it, my hope is that there is added impetus and momentum for immediate, stronger rail safety efforts."

Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-N.J.), in a letter to NTSB Chairman Christopher Hart: "Sadly, accidents on our public transit are all too common. I will continue to work in Congress to provide necessary transit funding and push for the full implementation of Positive Train Control and other important safety technologies."

AVIATION CAP-AND-TRADE STILL CIRCLING THE TOWER: Concerns from China, Russia and India have delayed completion of discussions of the International Civil Aviation Organization's executive committee about whether to endorse a proposed international cap-and-trade program. Plugged-in sources told MT that the text received broad support Thursday, but the chair is going to hold meetings with a small number of countries that have reservations in the hopes of bringing them on board. If the executive committee endorses the program, it will go to the plenary for approval.

Nancy Young, vice president for environmental affairs at Airlines for America, who's in Montreal, said the chair will come back this afternoon with proposals for tweaks. Environmentalists are concerned that while the chair promised not to reopen the draft, any adjustments could further weaken what they already consider a weak program for carbon reduction.

SENATORS CALL FOR INVESTIGATION OF RAIL TAKEOVER: Forty-two senators want the Obama administration to launch an investigation into whether Chinese Railroad Rolling Stock Corporation's pending takeover of Vertex Railcar Corporation should be halted because of national security concerns. In a letter to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, the senators say they are also worried that the acquisition would put American jobs at risk by transferring railcar production to China, Pro Trade's Doug Palmerreported[8]. Fifty-five members of the House called for a similar investigation in July.

AFA-CWA ENDORSES CLINTON: Hillary Clinton secured the endorsement of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA's board of directors. "We have experience with Hillary Clinton as a champion for flight attendants, especially as the leading voice for the technical correction to [The Family and Medical Leave Act] and the relentless advocate for 9/11 first responders," AFA said in a statement Thursday. "Parallel to our union's progress for flight attendants, Secretary Clinton's fight — long and historic — has opened the door for women to overcome discrimination, sexism, and become equal partners in shaping our future."

SHIFTING GEARS: The Intelligent Transportation Society of America has hired Jeff Davis, the former director of business at Development for Homeland Security Solutions Inc., as senior vice president of membership and business development. ITS America has also brought on Jason Goldman, the former interim executive director of TechFreedom, as vice president of external affairs and stakeholder engagement. And the group promoted Steve Bayless to vice president of regulatory affairs.

THE AUTOBAHN (SPEED READ):

— "Package-delivery drones likely years away from federal approval." The Wall Street Journal[9].

— "Amtrak, airline and package delivery company employees got rich as DEA informants." The Washington Post[10].

— "United taps criminology students to uncover patterns in accident data." The Wall Street Journal[11].

— "Airbus Group to merge with its jetmaking unit — sources." Reuters[12].

— Wildstein alleges Port Authority doled out favors in Jersey City mayoral race. POLITICO New Jersey.[13]

— "Google quietly expands ride-sharing service." The Wall Street Journal[14].

THE COUNTDOWN: DOT appropriations run out in 70 days. The FAA reauthorization expires in 364 days. The 2016 presidential election is in 38 days. Highway and transit policy is up for renewal in 1,464 days.

References

  1. ^ reported (www.politicopro.com)
  2. ^ struck a cautious tone (www.politicopro.com)
  3. ^ reported (www.nydailynews.com)
  4. ^ bgurciullo@politico.com (www.politico.com)
  5. ^ @brigurciullo (go.politicoemail.com)
  6. ^ "Headed down south to the land of the pines. I'm thumbin' my way into North Carolina. Starin' up the road and pray to God I see headlights." (www.youtube.com)
  7. ^ Spotify playlist (play.spotify.com)
  8. ^ reported (www.politicopro.com)
  9. ^ The Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com)
  10. ^ The Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com)
  11. ^ The Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com)
  12. ^ Reuters (www.reuters.com)
  13. ^ POLITICO New Jersey. (www.politico.com)
  14. ^ The Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com)

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