AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas state Senate this week passed a bill to provide $350 million for grade crossing separation projects, as well as a related resolution calling on the city of Houston to build a pedestrian bridge at the site where a high school student was killed last December.
Senate Bill 1555, introduced in February by Sens. Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville, Tex.) and Carol Alvarado (D-Houston) passed by a 31-0 vote, as did the resolution by Alvarado calling for construction of the Sergio Ivan Rodriguez Memorial Pedestrian Bridge near Houston’s Milby High School. The Senate’s budget bill includes $10 million for that project.
The legislation now moves to the state House of Representatives.
Rodriguez was killed when struck by a Union Pacific train on the way to school, leading UP to agree to alter its operations near the school during primary arrival and departure times [see “UP will avoid train movements …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 17, 2024].
“The death of Sergio Ivan Rodriguez should have never occurred,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in a statement. “There should have been a railroad grade separation. No Texan should die at these dangerous crossings, especially near our schools. I am proud the Senate unanimously passed SB 1555 today to make sure that dangerous railway crossings can become safer for our students and for all Texans.”
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