Monday morning rail news:
Department of Transportation turns down labor request for national mask rule
The U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday turned down a request by a coalition of labor unions to require passengers to wear masks on airplanes, trains and other forms of transportation, a decision the group called “unfathomable.” Rolling Stone reports the DOT told the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO that it would not proceed with a mandate requiring mask use by passengers on commercial transportation, saying in a letter from the DOT’s general counsel and acting deputy secretary, Steven G. Bradbury, that the DOT “embraces the notion that there should be no more regulation than necessary” and that most state, local, and private-sector transportation entities already have mask requirements. The Transportation Trades Department had asked for a federal rule because the “patchwork of state or local mandates” left workers vulnerable to the virus.
Caltrain considers furloughs, suspension of weekend service to meet budget shortfall
Employee furloughs and suspension of weekend operations are among the methods of addressing a projected $18.5 million shortfall in Caltrain’s annual budget discussed Friday at a meeting of the Bay Area commuter rail agency’s board of directors. Other possibilities include shifting capital funds for the operating budget, using $13.7 million currently held in reserve, and pulling $5.3 million from State Rail Assistance funds. Caltrain warns in a press release that these measures may not be sufficient if ridership remains at its current level of about 5% of pre-pandemic fitures. The board also adopted a new $35 million operating budget for the second quarter of fiscal 2021, as well as an amended $84 million capital budget for the fiscal year.
LA Metro releases environmental documents for San Fernando Valley light rail project; comment period begins
LA Metro has released the Final Environmental Statement for its planned 9.2-mile light rail line in the east San Fernando Valley, which will connect the G (Orange) Line bus rapid transit route with Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink station. This begins the public comment period for the 720-page document, available with appendices here; comment will be accepted through Nov. 3. English- and Spanish-language online meetings are scheduled Oct. 14 and 26, respectively; more information is available here. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2022; opening is planned for 2028.
