Houston’s East End is in the midst of growing concern over problems with railroad tracks, which have led to frequent encounters between trains, vehicles and pedestrians.
Briana Baisden, an area resident, expressed concern about the situation, noting that problems with trains have been getting worse in recent months.
His main concern is trains stopping on the tracks for long periods, especially as he fears for the safety of school children. Recently, he recorded a video of a young man with a backpack trying to cross the tracks while a train was stationary.
The young man threw his bicycle between two connecting cars before crossing and crossing himself a few seconds later, managing to cross safely.
Baisden stressed that it should not be the responsibility of students to climb and throw their bikes or be late to school because of stopped trains along the way.
Belinda Martínez, a mother in the East End, also shared her concern and suggested that railway companies should better schedule train stops, taking into account school schedules.
A long-term solution to this problem includes the construction of new underpasses and the closure of several railway crossings in the East End through a multi-million-dollar project that has not yet been completed.
In response to these concerns, Union Pacific issued a statement noting that its goal is to keep trains moving, but sometimes trains occupy crossings for a variety of reasons, including mechanical issues, track work, and trespasser issues. The community’s biggest concern is that someone will be seriously injured or killed due to this situation, which could accelerate improvement plans.
Union Pacific also highlighted its commitment to working with the City of Houston and other stakeholders to find long-term solutions, including grade separation projects to ensure the safety of motorists and pedestrians. Additionally, it was mentioned that the city of Houston received federal funds to build underpasses and close rail crossings in the East End as part of an effort to address this issue.
