DOT 9-07
Friday, January 19, 2007
News Digest
DOT Cautions Consumers on Super Bowl Air Travel Ticket Scams. Air travelers
going to Super Bowl XLI this year should be aware that not all tour packages
include a ticket to the Feb. 4 game in Miami. U.S. Department of Transportation
(DOT) consumer protection rules require any operator marketing a Super Bowl air
package that is promoted as including game tickets to have the tickets in hand
or have a written contract for the tickets before the operator does any
advertising. The Department cautions travelers that if a game ticket is not
specifically mentioned in newspaper advertisements or other solicitation
material or listed as a tour feature, the ticket is probably not included. DOT’s
rules state that if a tour was described as including a game ticket and you do
not receive one, you are entitled to a full refund of the entire package price
upon your return. People may file complaints about Super Bowl tours that
advertise tickets but do not provide them by contacting the Aviation Consumer
Protection Division by e-mail at
airconsumer@dot.gov, by voice-mail at (202)
366-2220 or by TTY at (202) 366-0511. Contact Bill Mosley, (202) 366-4570.
FRA Issues Safety Advisory for Rail Yard Movements. As a result of a fatal
December 14, 2006 rail yard switching accident in Manlius, New York, the Federal
Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a Safety Advisory recommending that
railroads assess their existing rules addressing safety at yard grade crossings.
The agency also urges railroads to review, or as necessary, amend their rules
governing yard movements to clarify what actions employees must take under
various circumstances to fully adhere to operating procedures. In the December
accident, a worker backing a pickup truck over a yard grade crossing was struck
by rail cars being moved by a remote control locomotive. The remote control
operator did not maintain continuous supervision of the movement, resulting in a
fatal accident instead of a minor incident. Compounding the incident was a radio
communications failure involving other yard personnel who were attempting to
notify the operator to stop the movement. FRA noted that, should railroads and
employees fail to take these steps, it may take additional more stringent
actions or corrective measures under its regulatory authority. Contact Steve
Kulm: (202) 493-6024.
FRA Issues Proposed Guidelines for Rail Relocation and Improvement Grant
Program. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking detailing proposed qualifications and standards for capital grants
under the rail line relocation and improvement program created in the SAFETEA-LU
legislation. In order to be eligible for a grant, a project must mitigate the
adverse effects of rail traffic on safety, motor vehicle traffic flow, community
quality of life or involve a lateral or vertical relocation of any portion of
the rail line. Under the FRA proposal, half of all grant funds are reserved for
projects costing no more than $20 million each. A state or other eligible entity
will be required to pay at least 10 percent of the shared costs of the project.
Congress authorized $350 million per year for this program, but has not
appropriated any funding. Public comment will be accepted until March 5, using
docket number FRA 2005-23774. For more detailed information, the complete NPRM
can be found at www.fra.dot.gov. Contact Steve Kulm: (202) 493-6024.
-END-
Briefing
Room
