AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbot has signed into a law a bill creating funding to improve safety at railroad grade crossings, legislation sparked by the death of a Houston high school student late last year.
Senate Bill 1555 passed the house by a 101-16 vote earlier this month, after passing the Senate by a 31-0 vote in March [see “Texas Senate passes …,” Trains News Wire, March 27, 2025]. The final version provides $250 million in grants for cities and counties to replace at-grade crossings with overpasses or underpasses, or to create pedestrian walkways. The local entity must provide 10% matching funding.
The legislation was introduced following the death of 15-year-old Sergio Rodriguez, hit and killed last December by a train on his way to school at Houston’s Milby High School. That led to Union Pacific agreeing to limit train movements past the school during peak arrival and departure times [see “UP will avoid train movements …,” News Wire, Dec. 17, 2024]. The state has separately provided $10 million in funding for a pedestrian overpass near the school; KHOU-TV reports the city of Houston, Texas Department of Transportation, and UP are currently reviewing options for the design and location of that bridge.
While you folks can debate about the appropriateness of this particular situation, I am always happy to see any level of government cough up $ for grade crossing removal. What I am not clear about is this a one time appropation or will it be $250M per year in the future? As many crossings as Texas has and as many fatalities it would help if it was every year
It is very regretful that this happened. Witnesses reported in news accounts state the student chose to cross the track even though the train was plainly visible coming toward him. It was poor judgement on the part of the student, which is the most painful aspect of this accident. No amount of money can remedy that problem.
Grade separations are needed, but NOT in the case of the Houston high school. What’s needed it teaching kids – demanding that kids – obey crossing signals. Whether the crossing is directly adjacent to a high school or thirty miles from a high school, when the lights flash, you wait.
If the street is at grade, pedestrians won’t use the pedestrian bridge or the underpass. They will cross at street level.
You ask the wrong question, you get the wrong answer.
I agree with both you and Jeffery. I tried to get back to the original article but couldn’t get there. I thing it said that he was around 100 ft from the crossing on the right away. So even if they build a overpass or underpass there not going to use it just going to go the quickest way. One of the comments in the older article also ask the question was he wearing ear buds? We all ready know he didn’t see the train but did he hear it?