February 24, 2025 - TRA Austin -

Senate Transportation Committee Chair Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) and Senator Carol Alvarado (D-Houston) have jointly filed Texas Senate bill 1555 that would create a grant program to make at-grade rail crossings safer, a hot button in transportation circles this session.

The bill comes after the Texas Department of Transportation started the ball rolling by asking for an Exceptional Item (out-of-budget request) for $175 million for rail overpass and underpass projects in their Legislative Appropriations Request this session.

In December, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick echoed a call for a pedestrian bridge over Union Pacific tracks in East Houston after a 15-year old Milby High School student, Sergio Rodriguez, was struck by a train on his way to school. East Houston residents have been vocal about long trains blocking rail crossings. Union Pacific Railroad has been holding meetings with local officials and the public to find solutions in their busy rail corridor. 

In a social media post Patrick wrote “The neighborhood has asked for a pedestrian bridge for students to safely cross the train tracks for years. I don't know why they don't have a bridge, but that's about to change. The students and neighborhood deserve to be safe.”

Texas Rail Advocates supports creation of the grant program for grade separation projects and had sent legislators oversized postcards urging support of TxDOT's request for funding for rail projects.

The bill, if passed, would expand TxDOT's ability to work on local and regional grade separation projects instead of just on the state highway system. The bill would require that a minimum of 10 percent of the amount used as matching funds must be provided by a source other than the state.

As the legislature starts hearing bills that have been filed, TRA will be tracking the progress.

Here is the text of Senate Bill 1555:

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1.  Chapter 471, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 471.010 to read as follows:

Sec. 471.010.  GRANT PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN RAILROAD GRADE SEPARATION PROJECTS.  (a) For the purpose of increasing public safety, enhancing economic development, and reducing traffic, the department shall establish and administer a program to award grants to political subdivisions of this state or railroad companies to fund:

(1)  rail-roadway grade separation projects that are located at intersections of railroads and roadways that are not part of the state highway system; and (2)  rail-pedestrian grade separation projects that are located at intersections of railroads and pedestrian crossings.

(b)  A political subdivision or railroad company may use money awarded by the department under this section as matching funds to secure additional funding for a grade separation project described by Subsection (a).

(c)  Each grant awarded under this section must be approved by the commission.  The commission may not approve a grant under this section unless the commission determines that:

(1)  at least 10 percent of the total project costs will be provided by a source other than the state; or

(2)  if the grant money is being used as matching funds under Subsection (b), at least 10 percent of the amount used as matching funds will be provided by a source other than the state.

(d)  The department may fund the grant program under this section only from money appropriated by the legislature for that purpose and from gifts and grants, including grants from the federal government. The department may solicit and accept gifts and grants from any source for the purposes of this section.  Money deposited to the credit of the state highway fund may not be used to fund a grant awarded under this section.

(e)  The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.

SECTION 2.  Not later than October 1, 2025, the Texas Transportation Commission shall adopt the rules required by Section 471.010, Transportation Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Texas Rail Advocates was the first news media outlet to report on this story.

Photo credit: Federal Railroad Administration