Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration is reestablishing the charter of its Railroad Safety Advisory Committee, the agency has announced.
Established in 1996, the 25-member committee provides information, advice and recommendations to the FRA administrator on matters relating to railroad safety. According to a notice published Jan. 13, the charter renewal will be effective for two years from the date it’s filed with Congress.
In September, a group of 46 House Democrats, led by Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA), wrote a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy demanding that he “immediately reconstitute” multiple federal transportation advisory committees, including RSAC. The call came amid reports that DOT had elected to suspend at least 12 such committees.
“These committees play a critical role in engaging frontline worker perspectives and ensuring public transparency,” the lawmakers wrote. “Many of these committees are the only forum where agency, industry and labor representatives can convene in a structured manner. It is critical that workers directly impacted by transportation safety issues retain a seat at the table.”
RSAC has included a variety of voices from the railroad industry, including labor, freight and passenger rail representatives, as well as organizations that represent suppliers and shippers.
In a press release, Garamendi, a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said workers are better off with the return of RSAC.
“I’m encouraged that DOT reversed its decision; however, the work isn’t done,” he said. “I will continue to fight for comprehensive labor representation on the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee and put pressure on the department to reinstate all the other federal worker safety committees they gutted. These advisory committees are the difference between life or death for thousands of workers, and it’s time for this administration to act like it.”
