June 18, 2025 - TRA Newswire - 

A Union Pacific Railroad pledge states "we will all go home safe." The pledge is now taking on an expanded meaning as the commitment extends beyond their team and customers to the communities they serve – including the city of Houston, where the Class 1 railroad has operated for over 100 years.

As Clint Schelbitksi, Assisant Vice President of Public Affairs at Union Pacific explains, "As one of the more than 1,500 Union Pacific employees who call Houston home, I take this pledge seriously. It’s why I am proud to help launch TrackSafe Houston – a unified initiative designed to strengthen rail safety through communication, collaboration and investment."

This new effort brings together a long-standing UP safety program under one clear purpose, according to Schelbitski: Making Houston safe for everyone. "From crossing enhancements to emergency response coordination and public education, TrackSafe Houston is a commitment and a call to action rooted in partnership and purpose," said Schelbitski.

With a new $250 million state grant program recently passed by the Texas Legislature that will deliver improvements to urban area rail crossings where trains can delay traffic, Union Pacific plans to work hand-in-hand with city, state and federal leaders to make infrastructure improvements a reality. UP acknowledges that many lasting structures – like overpasses, pedestrian bridges and reconfigured crossings – will require public-private coordination and shared investment to keep highway traffic moving. 

"Through TrackSafe Houston, we also are investing in people and partnerships. Our UP Cares program, for example, works with schools, law enforcement and community organizations to promote safe behavior around tracks," according to Schelbitski. "This includes education about the dangers of distracted driving near rail crossings, where looking down at a phone for just a few seconds can significantly increase risks to both drivers and train operations."

As part of an ongoing awareness program, Union Pacific is developing seasonal safety campaigns and distributing rail safety materials to reach those who live and work closest to their tracks. UP just launched bilingual billboards featuring rail safety messaging at key locations along tracks near Houston schools and worksites.

Freight rail is an essential part of Houston, where a locomotive is one of the symbols of the city seal. Over the last decade, Union Pacific said it has invested more than $1 billion in the Houston area. They recently authorized additional funding to modernize infrastructure to enhance regional operations, add rail capacity to support the growing economy and improve fluidity at their Englewood Yard – where 3,000 rail cars move daily. This yard is a critical hub in Houston’s – and the entire nation’s – supply chain.

Photo credit: Port of Victoria