Labor, Environmentalists, and Community Groups Applaud Action to Make New Jersey Rail Safer Despite Heavy Industry Opposition
January 22, 2026 Labor, Environmentalists, and Community Groups Applaud Action to Make New Jersey Rail Safer Despite Heavy Industry Opposition TRENTON, NJ – In the final week of his administration, Governor Murphy signed S3389, which creates some of, if not the strongest, regulations on railroad operators in the country. Under the new law, rail companies transporting hazardous materials will be required to have two-person crews on all trains, take active measures to install wayside detectors, submit bridge condition reports to the state, and allow for worker inspections at facilities. These measures were supported by a diverse coalition of stakeholders including labor unions, environmental groups, and community members who live near railroad tracks. While advocates and experts pushed for even greater regulation in the aftermath of multiple major accidents in recent memory, including in East Palestine, Ohio (2023) and Paulsboro, New Jersey (2012), the steps taken by the state have been called common sense actions that will decrease the likelihood of a catastrophic event. These measures are especially important given the inaction at the federal level. Railroad companies have lobbied against any additional safety regulations and while successful at the federal level, were unable to kill this bill in Trenton. Read the [...]