August 16, 2021 I reached out the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), Ms. Elizabeth Repko, Director, Physical Infrastructure, Surface Transportation and emailed her all the petition signatures, thus far. Thank you to all those who have supported and shared the petition. My goal was to educate the elected officials on the adverse health effects, property damage, safety, and wellbeing related to blocked crossings and traffic congestion that is affecting so many people. This in addition to the request made by Congressman Peter DeFazio, Oregon, Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Democrat, announcing that his committee would ask the GAO to study the impact that precision scheduling is having on workers at railroads, customers that ship on railroads, and passenger railroads.
I advocated that here are adverse health impacts when railroads use the precision scheduled railroading (PSR).
WHAT IS REQUIRED FROM OUR COMMUNITIES AND FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS:
1. We must demand new Environmental Assessments in our communities.
2. We must demand noise and vibrations assessments in our communities.
3. We must demand soundproofing funding similar to that for reduction of aircraft noise.
Their office responded that the PSR review will start in September, and the exact scope and timelines will be determined once the work gets underway.
Please continue to share the petition: https://www.change.org/FreightTrainVibrationsNoiseandDieselFumesImpactsHealthandCausesDiseases
Resources:
July 21, 2021 In a commentary published in Fortune earlier this month, Ike Brann
Wall Street is Boosting Profits in Railroads with New Technology. But It’s Ignoring the Drawbacks By PETER DEFAZIO Fortune,
https://fortune.com/2021/07/21/peter-defazio-precision-scheduled-railroading-problems/
July 26, 2021 Class I, Freight, Freight Forecasting, News, Short Lines & Regionals, Switching & Terminal by Matt Parker Railway Age
https://www.railwayage.com/freight/psr-can-we-please-be-honest-here/
July 9, 2021, Fortune, By IKE BRANNON and MICHAEL F. GORMAN, Railroads Are Trying to Boost Productivity. But Unions Are Standing on the Tracks