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.”
One wonders if the proposed fence will be really high enough to prevent the high school kids from climbing it? 🤔
Charles just a little tongue in cheek. Railroads to often take a bad rap when an incident like this occurs. It’s a wonder someone doesn’t want the tracks relocated.
I presented a lot of Operation Lifesaver programs back in my railroad days. If a train crew reported an area they were concerned about we got something scheduled quickly.
This subject includes the death of a person. For that reason I am cautious of saying anything. It is a fact, check your LOCAL news. Young and old alike (me included) make STUPID mistakes. Some are simple and innocent, others are DEADLY. That’s a fact. In this case, there is an attempt to mitigate the danger. As has been testified to in comments here, this is an age old problem.
A VERY realistic observation was also made in these comments (Larry, long ago). Money spent, overpass walkway completed, still….who wants to walk up then down when staying at ground level is easier and quicker?
From the aerial picture I would think the young man crossed a highway (the one that intersects at an angle w/4 lane). Did he pay attention to the traffic signal protecting pedestrians? If so, why not the RR? After all surely there was enough warning. The highway crossing gates, horn blaring, I’m sorry but this is like so many other tragic deaths. Unavoidable and the grieving parents are not by themselves. Check your local news and there are MANY other grieving parents. endmrw0327251312
Has a cheaper plan like installing a complete fence been thought of. The only time people will use the footbridge is if a train is blocking their path. God, forbid a person would turn their head to see if a train is coming. I assume the railroad was there first and the school should be held accountable for building in such a dangerous location. To make the overpass work the r-o-w will have to be fenced anyway to force the people to use it. An awful expensive way to fix stupid. Just build a memorial at the site to remind people what can happen. Just some random thoughts on a beautiful morning. Spring is here.
What is the use of a footbridge if the street crossing remains open? People will cross at the street.
Daryl, What about the location is dangerous, to use your term? If kids can’t learn how to wait at a crossing signal, putting the school somewhere else doesn’t help.
No footbridge. Yes, Operation Lifesaver.
Overhead bridges to cross tracks give pedestrians a safe passage route, but there is always the temptation to take the direct and faster path straight across the track(s). Especially if you are “dared” by a “friend”.
The pedestrian bridge will only be used by the kids if the tracks are fenced in far enough along the tracks to make the bridge the only choice when a train is present.
As a corollary schools especially near RRs should have an awareness program to get the dangers into the young minds.
While I obviously condone obeying crossing signals, grade separation is logical. High speed highways are grade separated and have fencing for the same reasons railways in locations such as these should be grade separated. I’m glad they found the money to do this.
Kids do dumb things and should be taught to think through their actions, but they should also be treated with some grace. I would encourage everyone to think back to when they were in high school and think if they took unnecesary risks that could have worked out badly if luck wasn’t on their side.
Me? I was a stupid high school kid back then. I crossed the New Haven Railroad tracks (now fenced Amtrak HSR but not then) at grade, a quarter mile south of the Sharon curve. By at grade I mean there was no street there — my brother and I walked up across the ballasted tracks, no crossing signal, no walkway. No train horn blowing the crossing signal because this wasn’t a legitimate crossing.
There was a tunnel but a long walk downstairs and then on the other side a long walk upstairs. The bigger problem was that the unlit tunnel was hip-deep in garbage in our genteel, proud-of-itself suburb. So yes I crossed the railroad at grade, as did everyone else.
But now let’s get back to Houston. Unlike my walk to high school in Massachusetts, this Houston crossing is signalized. There’s absolutely NOTHING UNSAFE about a signalized crossing. All one needs to do is obey the signals.
True, kids get stupider the closer they get to school grounds, where packs of kids coalesce. Situational awareness gives way to nefarious conversation and the occasional inhalation of marijuana smoke. But the point is this: expect a train at any time in either direction on any track. That the track happens to be next to a high school doesn’t change that.
They are going to memorialize someone who was hit and killed while trespassing?
The student’s death never should have happened. He should have obeyed the crossing signal.
Thank you Charles! ‘Bout time somebody here said it. After all, we can’t expect High school students to have enough wherewithal to understand that when the the little light things are blinking, there’s a frickin’ TRAIN coming!