I've been wrecking on the railroad
Critical Analysis
According to the visual above, what has happened to the total number of train car derailments since 1980?
According to the visual above, what has happened to the total number train cars carrying hazardous materials on trains that derailed since 1980?
Based on the visual above, make a claim about railroad safety in America.
The derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals near East Palestine, Ohio two weeks ago, caused a massive explosion and fire two weeks ago that released clouds of toxic fumes and resulted in thousands of people being evacuated from their homes. The rescue and recovery operation has been shared by the federal agencies such as EPA, FEMA, and the Department of Transportation; Ohio state level agencies; and by local first responders. Make a claim about how the train derailment response illustrates the concept of federalism.
The train was not equipped with the electronic brakes that the former Federal Railroad Administration official Steven Ditmeyer said could have at least mitigated the disaster. And even though the train was over 1.7 miles long, it had a crew of only two, plus a trainee. Explain how this level of safety and regulation illustrates a conservative political ideology.
A decade ago, in the wake of rising rates of hazmat train derailments. After a spate of catastrophes — including a crude oil train derailment in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, which left 47 people dead — President Barack Obama’s transportation regulators began considering tougher rules for trains carrying hazardous materials. The proposal included measures to require stricter speed limits, stronger rail cars, more advanced brakes and better disclosure to inform state and local officials about the specifics of the hazardous materials passing through their communities. Explain whether you would support this type of regulation.
During the rulemaking process, the federal government’s National Transportation Safety Board told Obama officials that new regulations should be much more strict to protect citizens who live along rail lines. Obama rules did include a provision requiring some hazmat trains to be equipped with the improved braking technology. Safety officials, rail executives and rail workers have widely touted that equipment as a major upgrade to the industry’s existing Civil War-era braking systems that could prevent some derailments and reduce train-stopping distances by as much as 60 percent. Explain how the new Obama braking rules illustrate a liberal political philosophy.
Soon after the Obama rules went into effect, the rail industry began lobbying against the requirement, saying that the brake mandate would “impose tremendous costs without providing offsetting safety benefits.” After a 2016 campaign in which rail industry donors poured more than $6 million into G.O.P. campaign coffers, President Donald Trump repealed the brake rule, and the Biden administration has failed to restore it. How does this entire scenario illustrate the concept of iron triangles?
How does this entire scenario illustrate the concept of elite democracy.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says he's taking steps to impose stronger regulations on freight trains hauling toxic chemicals, such as the one that derailed and exploded into flames near East Palestine, Ohio, earlier this month, forcing thousands of people to evacuate their homes and raising environmental and health concerns. How could congress stop Buttigieg from imposing stronger regulations?
Learning Extension
Listen up!
Action Extension
Act up!
Contact the U.S. Department of Transportation at 1 (202) 366-4000 from 8:30am-5:00pm ET, M-F and let Secretary Pete Buttigieg know what you think about the work they are doing.