HOUSTON – Harris County Pct. 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia announced Friday the county has been awarded a $2 million grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) through its Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program.
The grant will support the East End Triangle R.A.I.L.S. Plan (Resilience Access and Improved Logistics for Safety), an initiative in Precinct 2 designed to enhance safety and mobility for residents.
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“Precinct 2′s East End of Houston has borne the burden of living with sometimes deadly consequences of multiple train crossings through their neighborhoods. This is exasperated when trains tend to stop for hours, causing members of the community to take unnecessary risks for fear that their schedules will be severely affected. That is why I advocated for this grant—because Harris County powers our nation, but that success story cannot come at a cost for some communities. It is also why I committed to partnering with the Biden Administration by providing part of the local match,” Garcia said.
The East End Triangle R.A.I.L.S. Plan will assess 14 railroad crossings in the East End Triangle community of Houston. This comprehensive study will examine the impact of trains on the neighborhood, including delays and safety concerns, while coordinating with railroads, emergency services, and other critical stakeholders. Extensive engagement with residents will gather input and recommend solutions that prioritize safety and connectivity.
“I am grateful to President Biden and to Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia for the federal government stepping up to do its part to make our neighborhoods safer. I am hopeful that the new administration will continue to support future grants to continue to address these dangerous rail crossings which disproportionately affect Precinct 2 residents,” said Garcia.
Harris County and the City of Houston will provide a 20 percent non-Federal match, demonstrating a strong local commitment to addressing the community’s needs. This initiative aligns with the FRA’s goals and qualifies for the statutory set-aside for planning projects under the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program.
The East End Triangle R.A.I.L.S. Plan is part of the FRA’s larger $79.2 million investment to improve railroad crossings across the country, supporting safer and more efficient transportation networks for communities nationwide.
The East End has seen a number of problems and also deadly accidents involving trains. In December, a Milby High School student, Sergio Rodriguez, was hit and killed by a train in the 2000 block of Broadway Street as he was walking to school.
The incident led to calls for a bridge to be built over the railroad in the area in order for kids to be able to walk to school more safely.