Professor Brescia Appointed to Study Rail Safety in Albany

City of Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan '94 recently appointed Professor Ray Brescia as one of 15 members to a panel that will study rail safety in the city.

According to coverage by the Times Union, Mayor Sheehan said in her announcement, "We need to build on the positive momentum we’ve achieved from local and federal actions taken to date to improve rail safety. The unprecedented increase in rail traffic impacts everyone who lives, works, shops and drives near the tracks."

The panel also includes a number of elected officials, the Albany County sheriff, the executive director of the Albany Housing Authority, and city police and fire chiefs. Formed in response to a recent proposal to relocate residents who live near a rail yard that is seeing increased traffic from oil-bearing trains, the panel expects to deliver its report with recommendations by Sept. 2, 2014.