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Today is Workers Memorial Day, a solemn day of remembrance to honor those who were killed or injured on duty.

Every April 28, we come together in solidarity to renew our call for safer workplaces across the transportation industry and the right of every worker to return home safely at the end of the day.

SMART-TD Experienced Several Devastating Losses This Year

Our union has experienced the tragic loss of several rail and bus members throughout the past year, including…

These names are more than just statistics: they represent beloved members of our union who continue to be mourned by their families, friends, and their fellow brothers and sisters.

“Pray For the Dead and Fight Like Hell for the Living”

The safety of our members has always been and will continue to be at the forefront of everything we do.

Whether it’s taking the fight to secure critical rail safety legislation to the halls of Congress or ensuring that our bus operators are protected from violent on-board assault, we will not rest until all our members are guaranteed the safest work environment possible.

That’s our duty as a union and a responsibility to all our brothers and sisters, because our work is never done when it comes to safety.

Today and every day, in the words of Mother Jones, we will continue to “Pray for the Dead and Fight Like Hell for the Living.”

After a year in which nearly half a dozen states passed laws championed by SMART-TD that strengthen safety protections for our rail and bus members, that trend continues in 2026.

New Law Extends Safety Protections to Railroad Workers

In New England, the Rhode Island General Assembly is considering legislation (H8432/S3164) that would amend the definition of “assaults” to include railroad workers who are engaged in the performance of their duties.

An “assault” is classified as “knowingly and willfully either (1) striking, or (2) spraying with a noxious chemical, commonly used as a personal defense weapon, including Mace” that covers a wide range of officials and public servants, including Rhode Island public transit authority bus drivers.

An attack that results in bodily harm would be classified as a felony and carry a penalty of up to three years in prison, a fine of up to $1,500, or both.

Legislation is a Proactive Step as Assaults Continue to Rise

According to SMART-TD’s Bus & Transit Assault Prevention & Safety (BTAPS) Committee, the group has collected over 100 assault reports from workers and noted a particularly striking uptick in reported assaults over the past 30 days.

BTAPS Chairperson Cole Czub, who is leading the push for this legislation with SMART-TD’s New England Safety & Legislative Director Dave Stevenson, Assistant Safety and Legislative Director Chris Tyrrell, and the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, emphasized the need to fight back against a serious problem that continues to plague both passenger rail and transit workers nationwide.

From left to right: Rhode Island AFL-CIO Legislative Director Erica Hammond, Rhode Island AFL-CIO President Pat Crowley, New England Safety & Legislative Director Dave Stevenson, Assistant Safety & Legislative Director Chris Tyrrell, BTAPS Chairperson Cole Czub.

“This bill is another tool that allows us to continue fighting back against the epidemic of transit violence that’s unfortunately showing no signs of slowing down,” said Czub. “While we’d love to eliminate the threat entirely, we know that’s a heavy lift. Holding perpetrators accountable for their violent behavior and ensuring that our passenger rail workers and bus operators can perform their jobs in the safest environment possible are strong first steps toward making that a reality one day.”

The Rhode Island legislation mirrors a similar bill that was signed into law late last year in Massachusetts and was spearheaded by Czub and Stevenson.

Brother Czub testifies in support of the Senate version of the legislation.

“Massachusetts takes assaults on transit workers seriously, and this bill would ensure our members are protected when those same trains cross the state line into Rhode Island,” explained SLD Stevenson.

New England Members: Stay Tuned for Ways That You Can Get Involved

As the bill prepares for its legislative journey (which will likely begin in the House), SMART-TD members in New England may be asked to contact their lawmakers or show their support in-person during committee hearings, actions that can help ensure the bill becomes law.

Together, we can strengthen protections for our brothers and sisters in yet another state and show that SMART-TD is leading the charge in the fight for safety.

With the governor’s signature on April 13, 2026, Virginia is now the latest state to require a minimum two-person crew (2-PC) on freight trains!

This historic win was a direct result of the hard work and determination of Virginia Safety & Legislative Director Ronnie Hobbs and our members who consistently showed up, spoke out, and sent a message that 2-PC benefits rail safety and their communities.

Second Time was the Charm on 2-PC

Enshrining 2-PC in Virginia law wasn’t easy and took years to become a reality.

The same bill passed in the legislature two years ago, but thanks to former Governor Glenn Youngkin’s late-night veto, it never became law. Fortunately, current governor and 2-PC supporter Abigail Spanberger righted her predecessor’s wrong and ensured that trains traveling throughout the state will have a full crew on board, proving that common sense and public safety should not be partisan issues.

Governor Spanberger’s action on this bill makes it clear: she is “with us” on the most critical issues facing rail workers, and we are grateful for her support of the legislation.

A Thank You to the Members Who Made This Happen

Whether you contacted your lawmakers, showed up to one of the many hearings, or both, this victory would not have been possible without our SMART-TD brothers and sisters.

“I can’t thank our members enough for their work to get this passed,” emphasized SLD Hobbs. “Lawmakers listened to their constituents and prioritized the safety of communities throughout the Commonwealth. We’re proud to join the list of states where 2-PC is the law of the land and hope that it continues to grow!”  

Less than a week ago, SMART News brought you the latest in our series of stories tackling the importance of transit funding, a critical issue that’s affecting communities of all sizes across the country.

Significant Amtrak, Transit Funding Cuts Possibly Looming

In its most recent budget request for fiscal year 2027, the federal government proposes slashing over $2 billion from Amtrak, a 13.5% reduction that comes on the heels of a record year for the rail network. Not only that, a bipartisan group of more than 100 lawmakers sent a letter at the end of March pushing for full funding for Amtrak and other rail projects.

Unfortunately, that’s not all that’s on the chopping block.

The Federal Transit Administration’s budget calls for an over $1 billion reduction in the Capital Investment Grants program, which “funds transit capital investments, including heavy rail, commuter rail, light rail, streetcars, and bus rapid transit.”

The supposed reasoning for the cut? “[It’s] a move to make local governments do more.”

Yes, you read that correctly. Instead of supporting their local counterparts, the federal government is essentially saying that they can figure out how to make ends meet.

Nothing to it, right?

An Insult to Amtrak Members and Local Governments

You don’t have to be an avid follower of national politics to see it: this is clear proof that the federal government’s priorities are completely out-of-touch with what’s happening across the country.

Rather than supporting local and state governments that are working tirelessly to ensure that their communities have access to quality, reliable, and safe public transit options, they’re leaving them to figure it out on their own and foot the entire bill.

That’s not fiscal responsibility. That’s a blatant disservice to our members and the passenger rail and transportation networks that keep this country moving.

We’ve heard about it from our brothers and sisters who experience it firsthand every day: there are issues at the border. From the locations and safety concerns surrounding crew swaps, to determining who conducts inspections and where they take place, there are serious questions that deserve thorough answers.

Like any complicated issue, there’s inevitable gray area and ambiguity. To wade through this and see members’ concerns for himself, SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson traveled to El Paso, Texas in March to put eyes on it himself, separate fact from fiction, and get a sense of what these members experience every day.

Leadership doesn’t mean hiding behind a computer screen or sitting in an office. It’s getting out, showing up, and making sure that our members know that they are what drives our union.



For nearly a year, SMART-TD has examined the nationwide transit funding crisis in-depth.

Whether it’s cities from Philadelphia to San Francisco facing devastating service cuts because of looming fiscal cliffs or legislative impasses preventing additional funding boosts, both riders and operators are suffering from an often-avoidable problem that they did not cause.

The Key to a Thriving Community: Fast, Reliable Public Transit

In California, one group is taking a proactive approach to ensure that public transit stays fully funded after a service expansion that was rolled out in recent years led to considerable improvements systemwide.

Friends of Santa Cruz Metro is spearheading the effort to put a half-cent sales tax referendum on the November 3 ballot in Santa Cruz County that would maintain fast, frequent service and make the bus free for most people. If passed, the tax would remain in effect unless voters chose to repeal it later.

Voters in Charlotte, North Carolina approved a similar measure in November of 2025 that’s expected to raise $19 billion over 30 years for transit projects.

SMART-TD Bus Department Vice President James Sandoval, who started his career as a bus operator for Santa Cruz METRO, emphasizes the impact of quality public transportation on communities nationwide.

“SMART-TD Local 23 members move Santa Cruz County every single day, and SMART members across the country are doing the same in their communities,” he said. “When service is frequent, affordable, and dependable, people don’t just ride because they have to: they choose to. If we want reliable service, strong ridership, and real opportunity, we must invest in it and stand up for the workers who make it all possible.”

Source: Friends of Santa Cruz Metro Facebook

Since Metro expanded service, there’s been a notable 33% increase in ridership and a 400% increase in ridership for students, thanks to the agency’s Youth Cruz Free Program, which allows K-12 students to get on a bus just by showing their student ID.

Several significant investments are also in progress, including a bus on shoulder lane in the Highway 1 expansion project and zero emission fleet upgrades made possible because of dedicated investment in the critical services that residents rely on every day.

Locally Controlled Funding Source is a Non-Negotiable

Friends of Santa Cruz Metro makes it clear: without dedicated local funding, the world class service that Santa Cruz County residents have come to know would be a thing of the past.

On the chopping block…

  • 40% service reduction
  • 100+ employees risk losing their jobs
  • Youth Cruz Free Program ends
  • Frequent service (every 15-20 minutes) increased to every 30 minutes

This is an avoidable problem, but only if the sales tax measure makes it onto the November 3 ballot and is ultimately approved by voters.

Live in Santa Cruz County? Act Now!

To qualify, 12,500 signatures from voters across the county are needed by May 11, 2026.

You can join the volunteer list to help collect signatures in Santa Cruz County or donate to help support the campaign.

“If we want reliable service, strong ridership, and real opportunity, we have to invest in it and stand up for the workers who make it all possible,” explained VP Sandoval. “The choice is simple: move forward together or fall behind.”

With 36 years of service and dedication to the railroad and SMART-TD behind him, Indiana State Safety & Legislative Director Kenny (KO) Edwards will officially retire next Friday, April 10, 2026.

“It’s been a pleasure to serve the membership,” KO told SMART News. “Everything we accomplished was for the membership. I hope that’s how they feel. They always deserved the effort.”

His tireless work was even recognized by the Indiana General Assembly during this year’s legislative session. State Representatives Mitch Gore and Chris Campbell presented KO with a House Resolution honoring his retirement and thanking him for his many years of service to the state’s working families.

Indiana SLD Kenny (KO) Edwards (center) is presented with a resolution commemorating his retirement by Indiana State Representatives Chris Campbell and Mitch Gore (left). He was joined by Assistant Indiana SLD Andy McKeeman (second from right) and his father, Kenneth (KR) Edwards.

A fifth-generation railroader himself, KO understands what life on the rails is really like, because he’s experienced it firsthand.

“I understand the sacrifices our members make because of the railroad,” he explained. “That was the motivation to work as hard as we could for our fellow Brothers and Sisters.”

SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson praised KO for his decades of leadership and legislative advocacy, including the recently passed train crew privacy protections bill.

“KO knows what it takes to successfully guide a bill through the legislative process and ensure that the priorities of transportation workers in his home state actually become law,” he said. “He is an example of what tenacity, dedication, and heart look like, and I’m grateful for his many contributions to our union. I will miss him but wish him an enjoyable, well-deserved retirement!”

National Safety & Legislative Director Jared Cassity echoed those remarks.

“If you need to get something done, KO’s your man,” he said. “Coming from the craft himself, he gets what our members experience every day and fights to ensure their voices are heard loud and clear. He is the epitome of what a state legislative director should be, and I can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done.”

Celebration scheduled for April 10

A retirement celebration honoring KO is scheduled for next Friday, April 10 from 5-9 p.m. at the Indianapolis Professional Firefighters (IAFF Local 416, 748 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis). Gifts are not necessary, but your presence is more than welcome.

As he prepares to start a new chapter, KO praised Assistant Safety & Legislative Director Andy McKeeman, who will become the new SLD after April 10.

“Brother Andy is more than ready for the job. He’s a sharp, seasoned railroader, and I’m proud to have had the opportunity to serve alongside him. Our Brothers and Sisters are in good hands, and I know he’ll do a great job,” KO emphasized.

As for the legacy KO’s leaving behind with SMART-TD?

“Legacies are like railroad nicknames,” he said. “Others decide what that will be.  You don’t get to choose your own.”

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently advanced its Bus Testing Program for approval without changes, opening a short window for public comment under federal rules.

On paper, the program ensures buses meet standards for braking, durability, and performance before federal funds can be used. All of this is in the name of safety but in reality, it continues to ignore the most urgent safety issue facing transit today: operator assaults.

In its formal comments, SMART-TD noted that this program may check mechanical boxes, but it fails to factor in safety when it comes to protecting the worker behind the wheel.

What Is the FTA Bus Testing Program, and Why Should Operators Care?

The Bus Testing Program is the federal gatekeeper for bus design. If a model passes testing, agencies can buy it using their federal grant dollars. If it fails, it’s off the table. For most transit agencies, that means they won’t even consider that bus model since they would have to pay for it completely out of pocket.

That makes this program one of the most powerful tools shaping the safety mechanisms in the buses our members operate every day.

But here’s the problem. A bus can pass “safety” testing today without any meaningful operator protection built in. The FTA is operating this program based on pre-COVID-19 and Transit Violence epidemic logic. No requirement for assault mitigation. No evaluation of barriers. No standard for shielding operators from violence.

That’s not a gap; that’s a failure of priorities, and a failure to keep up with the times. That is where your union comes in. We hear you, we know your priorities, and we are making sure the FTA does, too.

Outdated Standards Ignore the Surge in Operator Assaults

The rise in assaults since the pandemic is not a blip on the radar. It’s a sustained, nationwide trend involving physical attacks, weapons, and direct interference with vehicle operation.

Yet the FTA is attempting to extend the current safety program “without change.”

That means federal safety standards still treat bus safety as solely a mechanical issue while ignoring the human being operating the vehicle. No one on a bus is safe if the operator isn’t safe. Period.

SMART-TD Demands Real Safety: Barriers, Visibility, and Accountability

The union’s public comments lay out a clear path forward grounded in our members’ real-world experience from the job:

  • Fully enclosed, bullet-resistant operator barriers must become standard, not optional upgrades.
  • Barrier performance must be tested, including durability and ballistic resistance.
  • Visibility matters: barriers cannot introduce glare, blind spots, or unsafe sightlines.
  • Operator feedback must be part of testing, not an afterthought.
  • Safety systems must be factory-installed, not left to piecemeal retrofits.

These aren’t wish list items. They are proven, deployable solutions already in use in some areas of the country.

Why This Fight Matters for Every Bus Operator

The Bus Testing Program dictates what equipment shows up in your yard. If operator protection isn’t required at the federal level, agencies will continue buying buses that leave operators exposed.

SMART-TD’s position is simple: federal dollars should not fund unsafe buses.

By forcing operator protection into the testing and reporting process, the union is pushing to:

  • Raise national safety standards
  • Give agencies real data for procurement decisions
  • Create consistency across fleets
  • Reduce assaults and improve quality of life

This is about changing the baseline, not negotiating exceptions.

The Bottom Line: Safety Standards Must Catch Up to OUR Reality

The FTA has an opportunity right now to modernize one of the most influential programs in transit. Extending it without change sends the wrong message to operators facing daily threats on the job.

SMART-TD has made it clear: operator protection is not optional. It is fundamental to a safe transit system.

The industry has the technology. The data is there. What’s missing is the will to act. Our Bus Operators cannot be asked to wait another 3 years for this problem to be fixed the next time the FTA Bus Testing Program comes up for an evaluation!

Lindale, Texas—It is with heavy hearts and profound respect that SMART-TD announces the passing of Brother Don Hollis, who passed away on March 29, 2026, at the age of 74.

A member of Local 439 (Tyler, Texas) and a former Cotton Belt General Chairperson, Brother Hollis began his career on the railroad as an engineer with Union Pacific before his retirement in 2012. He also held several positions with SMART-TD in his home state, including Local Chairperson and Secretary of Local Committee of Adjustment (LCA) 927A. More recently, Brother Hollis served as Division President to the Tyler chapter of the National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees (NARVRE).

When reached by SMART News, General Chairperson of GCA 927 Scott Chelette noted that he and some other members had just been sharing stories about Brother Hollis and the impact that he left on all of them.

“He paved the way in a lot of agreements and doing a lot of things for this committee,” said GC Chelette, specifically pointing out his role in the 1996 Union Pacific and Southern Pacific merger.

Beyond the railroad, Brother Hollis was a member of the Masonic Lodge and First Baptist Church Swan and was an avid motorcycle enthusiast.

He is survived by his daughter, Brandy Hollis, and Josh Herrera of Big Sandy and was predeceased by his mother, wife, sons, and granddaughter.

We extend our deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to Brother Hollis’s daughter and his extended family and friends, as well as the members of Local 439 and those who knew him well. Most importantly, we are grateful for his many years of dedication and contributions to our union.

For SMART-TD, March is more than just Women’s History Month. It’s Women MAKING History Month.

But just because April is right around the corner doesn’t mean that we stop recognizing and sharing the stories of the women who are leading, educating, and carving a path forward within our union in real time, setting the stage who those who will come after them.

Over the past 31 days, we’ve shared the stories of five SMART-TD union sisters: Sandra Pineda, Robin Smith, Markeisha Haynes, Kim Collier, and Heather Steele. They are some, but far from all, of the powerful women who are showing up every day in a male-dominated industry and performing their jobs with tenacity and grit, refusing to let their gender define who they are or what they can accomplish.

They are trailblazers in every sense of the word, determined to bring more women into the fold and show them that there’s a place for them in our union.

Making Things Better for the Next Generation Through Service

Whether it’s making safety their personal mission like Sisters Collier and Steele or serving as a go-to resource for their members like Sisters Pineda, Smith, and Haynes, these women are determined to leave things better than they found them for the next generation.

That’s leadership in real time, and we’re grateful that we get to witness it every day across multiple crafts in our union.

Beyond the Feel-Good Headlines: Leadership in Action

These SMART-TD sisters are more than just an inspiring headline. They are laying the groundwork for the future of our industry and of the labor movement in this country. We celebrate both their journeys within our union and the legacies that they’re writing every day. One month is not enough to celebrate their impact; they deserve that honor all year long.

To all the SMART-TD sisters who we featured this month: thank you for sharing your personal stories with us. Together and individually, you are a driving force to be reckoned with, and our union is better because of you.