Political Quotes

“Transportation for America wrote that the committee- reported legislation would be an important step forward in creating a transportation program that will boost the Nation's economy and ensure future prosperity. It also stated that the bill would improve the safety of our Nation's rail system. Building on the work of the commerce committee, the multiyear Transportation bill also includes a bipartisan extension to the PTC deadline. The bipartisan extension is a rigorous case-by-case approach, with enforceable milestones and metrics. The Secretary of Transportation approves or disapproves of the dates in a railroad's updated implementation schedule, including the hard end date for implementation. Under no circumstances can the Secretary approve a date for full installation and activation that is later than 2018. The Secretary also has the authority to identify and require changes to deficient schedules that do not show safe and successful implementation as soon as practicable. Multiple government reports, including from the Government Accountability Office, the DOT, and the FRA, have concluded that the vast majority of railroads will not meet the December 31, 2015, deadline for PTC implementation. This extension will not delay safe and successful implementation of positive train control technology.…”