Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

The "Positive Train Control: Is it on Track?" forum will be held in the NTSB Conference Center in Washington, D.C., and is free and open to the public. A detailed agenda and a list of speakers are forthcoming.

On Friday, June 24, 2011, a 2008 Peterbilt truck-tractor pulling two empty trailers on northbound U.S. 95 struck the left side of an Amtrak train that was passing through a grade crossing en route from Chicago to Emeryville, Calif.

Motorcoach EXPO 2012 is scheduled for February 8 to 12, with a focus on elevating the industry. The event will feature new and timely education sessions on topics critical to motorcoach professionals, as well as 150 industry suppliers on the tradeshow floor and a variety of networking and social functions open to all attendees.

Board issued 15 new safety recommendations to the FHWA, the FMCSA, the NHTSA, ASHTO, the Governors Highway Safety Association, all 50 states, and the District of Columbia.

President Barack Obama nominated Deborah Hersman for a second term on June 28, 2011. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.

(Bronx, N.Y.) Around 5:30 a.m., a motorcoach was returning to New York from a Connecticut casino, traveling at up to 78 miles per hour, when it departed the travel lanes to the right, crossed over a paved shoulder and struck a roadside barrier.

The new Board Order stipulates that future lists would be limited to a maximum of 10 issue areas, each supported by recommendations, and that the formerly separate state and federal Most Wanted Lists be combined into a single, comprehensive list.

Will use the Twitter account to communicate with those interested in its investigative work and advocacy programs to enhance transportation safety. The YouTube channel will be a one-stop resource where the NTSB's advocacy video messages, transportation accident animations and other video products can be accessed.

Chairman Hersman discussed four investigations across all modes of transportation, highlighting several accidents that claimed the lives of dozens and encouraged attendees to embrace lessons learned to prevent future accidents.

Although highway, rail, aviation deaths declined, pipeline and marine fatalities showed an increase. The data indicates that transportation fatalities in all modes totaled 35,928 in 2009, compared to 39,569 in 2008.