LIRR
POTUS 47 has established a second PEB, effective Jan. 16, to help resolve disputes between commuter railroad LIRR (see map below) and five labor organizations (Transportation Communications Union; Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen; Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen; International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers).
The five-union coalition on Jan. 12 reported requesting the second PEB to resolve a contract dispute. Members, it said, “have been without a pay raise for over three years,” since April 2022.
“Although more than half all LIRR union workers have already settled a contract that guaranteed 9.5% in wage increases over three years, the five remaining unions have held out for more, arguing that their raises should be more in line with what other railroads in the United States have offered workers in recent years, including Amtrak and Philadelphia’s Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, or SEPTA,” according to an Aug. 19, 2025 Newsday report.
The LIRR-coalition contract dispute has been in National Mediation Board-sponsored mediation since February 2024. The NMB on Aug. 18, 2025, released the parties from mediation, triggering a 30-day cooling off period under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), ending at 12:01 a.m. on Sept. 18. The labor coalition requested the first PEB at that time.
The first PEB “recommended raises of 14% over four years along with other improvements,” according to the coalition.
That recommendation, Newsday reported Jan. 9, 2026, “was closer to the 16%, four-year contract sought by the unions than it was to the 9.5%, three-year deal offered by the MTA.”
“We felt compelled to request a second PEB because of LIRR and the MTA’s refusal to bargain in good faith,” said Gilman Lang, the General Chairman for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen at LIRR.
“We didn’t agree with everything in the first PEB … but those recommendations should have been used as the foundation for further negotiations,” said Nick Peluso, National Vice President of the Transportation Communications Union. “We are only asking for what’s fair and consistent with agreements reached across the rail industry.”
According to the coalition, no direct negotiations between labor and management have been held since July 2025.
LIRR President Rob Free said in a statement to Long Island Life and Politics: “We have said repeatedly the best way to settle this is at the negotiating table, which we’ve been ready to do. We look forward to them showing up to negotiate a contract that includes meaningful improvements to work rules so we can better serve LIRR riders.”
Railway Age Capitol Hill Contributing Editor Frank N. Wilner provided the following explanation of the commuter rail provisions of the RLA:
“Major Disputes on commuter railroads, including Amtrak commuter operations, are resolved under distinct procedures. Amtrak intercity passenger operations are subject to the RLA’s freight-railroad provisions.
“The NMB, a commuter rail authority, labor union, or a governor of a state through which the commuter railroad operates may request creation of a PEB. If appointed, there is imposed a 120-day status quo (no strikes; no lockouts) requirement.
“If, within the first 60 days, there is no resolution, the NMB must conduct a public hearing at which parties to the dispute testify.
“If a voluntary agreement is not reached by the end of the second 60-day period, the commuter authority, labor union, or governor may request a second PEB be created.
“If a second PEB is created, a new 30-day status quo period commences. If, by the end of that period, a voluntary settlement is not reached, the parties present to the second PEB a ‘last, best and final offer,’ with the PEB selecting, without modification, the one it finds most reasonable. The PEB’s selection is not binding. If a settlement still is not reached based upon the second PEB’s non-binding recommendations, a strike, unilateral promulgation of carrier-desired changes, or an employer lockout may commence. As with Major Disputes on freight railroads, the RLA at that point has run its course. Congress then may legislate settlement terms.
“Should labor commence a work stoppage, striking employees are denied, for the duration of the strike, unemployment benefits payable under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA). Should the commuter railroad reject the non-binding recommendations, precipitating a work stoppage, the commuter railroad may not take advantage of a carrier strike insurance plan.”
Click here for a mediation overview and FAQ from the NMB.
Further Reading:
- BLET Givebacks to NJT a “New Normal” for Labor?
- NJT BLET Rank-and-File Ratify Deal
- Biden Orders Second PEB in NJ Transit-BLET Contract Dispute
- PEB 251 Established, Recommendations Released to Settle NJ Transit-BLET Dispute
- BLET Forks $50K Over to NJT for ‘Illegal Job Action’
- President Biden Signs H.J. Res. 100 Into Law
CTA
The Chicago Transit Board on Jan. 14 approved the award of an agreement to Sandbox Carbon for a pilot project: the installation of “activated carbon filters” on eight 5000-series CTA rapid transit cars. This will help “mitigate the smell of cigarette smoke and other odors that negatively impact the customer experience,” according to the transit agency. The new filters “include substantially more activated carbon than traditional HVAC filters, which is especially helpful in providing a better transit riding experience for vulnerable populations, particularly children, seniors, and people with chronic illnesses,” it said. Typical HVAC filters “can capture harmful particles, but many gases responsible for odors can pass through,” it noted.
The filters will be installed in the railcars’ return air ducts, which pull air from the cabin for the HVAC system; there are four such ducts per railcar. Each filter will have a custom-designed protective metal grate to prevent debris from entering, according to CTA. To monitor filter performance throughout the pilot, CTA said it will also install two industrial air quality sensors in each railcar to monitor two common byproducts of cigarette smoke; these sensors will also monitor air flowing through the HVAC system.
CTA said the one-year pilot is part of its Innovation Studio, which last summer “launched a problem statement seeking solutions to help mitigate the smell associated with smoke and other unpleasant odors.” CTA said it sought solutions that were “low maintenance, easily installed and capable of performing in a variety of outdoor weather conditions.” The agency will fund the pilot with a stipend not to exceed $65,054.24. CTA anticipates filter installation to begin this spring following a baseline air quality test to help compare the effectiveness of the new filters. The agency said it will also evaluate the time it takes for filters “to completely remove the odor from cigarette smoke in the air and by ensuring the filters remain effective for the full period between maintenance cycles.”
According to CTA, over the past few years there has been “a significant increase in the number of people smoking on vehicles.” This “is not only a violation of CTA’s Code of Conduct,” it said, but also “degrades the rider experience and creates a strong incentive for riders to choose modes other than transit if they are able.”
The new pilot will compliment the agency’s ongoing efforts to combat the issue of smoking on trains and buses, including “working closely with local law enforcement and security personnel to confront the issue in real-time through strategic anti-smoking missions in which violators are issued citations, plus ongoing amplification of both visual and audio reminders that smoking is prohibited,” CTA reported.
“We are excited to move forward with this pilot for Innovation Studio,” CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen said. “We employ a multifaceted approach to confronting the issue of smoking aboard CTA buses and trains, including in-system campaigns and working closely with local law enforcement and security personnel to execute anti-smoking missions. This pilot complements those efforts and seeks to use technology to enhance air quality in our railcars.”
“Sandbox Carbon is thrilled to partner with the CTA on a pilot project that addresses air quality for transit riders,” said Aaron Rose, CEO and Co-Founder of Chicago-based Sandbox Carbon. “This project will test our advanced odor control technology while fitting seamlessly into existing CTA operations, helping make public transportation more comfortable. We thank the CTA for its commitment to testing new solutions that elevate public transportation for all.”
Among CTA’s other Innovation Studio challenges: “How can CTA provide rail station attendants with tools to welcome and assist riders with limited English proficiency?” and “How can CTA provide simulated training opportunities for rail operators to gain additional hands-on experience?”
Further Reading:
- RTA Board Approves 2026 Regional Operating Budget and Capital Program
- Gov. Pritzker Signs NITA Act Into Law
- Chicagoland Transit Gets Reprieve
Trinity Metro’s TEXRail
Trinity Metro on Jan. 14 reported that TEXRail, the 27-mile commuter railroad operating between Fort Worth and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B, surged to a new monthly ridership high. There were 129,115 rides in December, it said, up 25% from December 2024. Ridership also increased for the last quarter and the full calendar year. When comparing passengers carried for October, November, and December with the previous year, the total ridership was almost 14% higher, Trinity Metro said. Ridership for calendar year 2025 was up 12% over 2024.
“Peak holiday travel places unique demands on airport infrastructure, and the continued growth of TEXRail ridership shows the value of giving travelers more choices,” said Ken Buchanan, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer for DFW Airport. “During the airport’s busiest travel periods, public transportation plays an important role in improving the customer experience by reducing congestion on the roads and at the terminal curbs. By encouraging the use of public transit, we help customers move through the airport more smoothly while easing pressure on roadways and airport facilities. It’s a win-win-win for the traveler, the airport and the region.”
“This season was incredible!” added Paul W. McCallum, Executive Director of the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Trains arrived filled with families and couples using the convenience of TEXRail. We’re thrilled to see more people experiencing TEXRail and seeing just how easy it is to safely arrive at Historic Main Street without the drive, making the ride part of the fun!”
Separately, Trinity Metro last spring approved a 10-year, $324 million contract extension for TEXRail and Trinity Railway Express.
