HOUSTON – Residents of Houston’s East End have become accustomed to the frequent presence of stalled trains blocking railroad tracks. However, while many are used to the delays, local officials are working on solutions to mitigate the issue and reduce the time trains block intersections.
Kevin Tesareski, a local skateboarder who lives near Milby Street, describes how he often has to wait for trains to pass, sometimes taking matters into his own hands.
“I’ve gone under it,” Tesareski admits. “I’ve gone under it like I just know it’s going to be there for a minute, so I’m going to go underneath it. I don’t do that anymore. Practice patience, everyone. So, yeah, I’ve done that because it just takes forever.”
What’s behind the delay?
According to the East End District’s Rail Safety Coordinator, Jack Hanagriff, who monitors the situation regularly, trains in the area once caused significant delays of up to 30 minutes on average. However, the situation has improved in recent years, with average wait times now reduced to 15 minutes in certain areas.
Despite these improvements, homeowner Elliott Martinez still feels the effects of train delays. His typical commute should take no more than 10 minutes, but when a train rolls through, he finds alternate routes.
“If the train blocks you, you have to go downtown, and because of rush hour traffic, something that would take just a few minutes turns into a major ordeal,” Martinez said.
“Why not just wait for the trains and keep moving?” KPRC 2′s Rilwan Balogun asked.
“Yeah, because you just never know,” Martinez said. “The train could be stalled for five minutes. It could be stalled for three, four, or five hours.”
State senator pushes for accountability
State Senator Carol Alvarado has been vocal about the issue, sharing posts on social media to highlight the ongoing problem. Alvarado has met with Union Pacific, one of the major rail operators in the area, to discuss potential solutions.
“I get it. Some places are going to be just right for an underpass or an overpass. But in the meantime, do your damn job,” Alvarado said. “Be sensitive to the community that you’re passing through. Be sensitive to the time that you’re blocking intersections. And so, they—I mean, I won’t go into detail, but they kind of admitted that, you know, they could do better.”
Alvarado emphasizes the need for rail companies to be more responsive to the needs of local communities.
Union Pacific Railroad, along with BNSF Railway, operates the most tracks in the East End due to their large rail yards in the area. The Port Terminal Railroad and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited also use the railroad.
Hanagriff said these companies are cooperating with his team and helping reduce blockages, even if people don’t feel it.
“They are doing all types of stuff to reduce it, and they’re complying,” Hanagriff said.
Ongoing efforts to reduce blockages
Efforts to improve the situation are underway. The Houston Smart Railroad Project, a data-driven initiative, is monitoring railroad crossings and recording the average time trains block these intersections. According to Hanagriff, the data has been instrumental in identifying problem areas, including intersections at Hirsch Road and Clinton Drive, which consistently experience delays due to nearby rail yards.
The project’s data helps first responders, including local fire stations, track real-time train blockages to ensure they can respond quickly in emergencies. Hanagriff also mentioned that the program has received a grant to expand its monitoring capabilities.
While the situation has improved, officials acknowledge that more needs to be done. In 2022, the district recorded rare but significant blockages lasting up to 20 hours, though those instances have now dropped to just a few per year.
Local leaders are calling for more collaboration with rail companies to find long-term solutions that will reduce the impact on residents and businesses in the East End.
“It’s a priority [in the upcoming legislative session], but there’s very little that the state can do,” Alvarado said. “The railroads are primarily regulated at the federal level.”
Homeowners said they’re patient but feel they’ve waited long enough for permanent solutions.
“I can deal with city living—helicopters, you know, the occasional hobo cats or dogs running around, right? But the train really is a thorn in people’s sides,” Martinez said. “The solutions have been slower; the money has been slower. But I feel now that it’s getting to that point—it’s bubbling up now. Hopefully, people will take action.”
