Houston City Council members called for enhanced safety measures at the city’s railroad crossings on Wednesday, following the tragic death of an elderly man in a wheelchair who was struck while trying to cross under a train stopped at St. Elmo Street.
Union Pacific reported that the train had stopped for only four minutes, but local residents claim trains in the area often block crossings for hours, causing severe disruptions. “You are blocked. You can’t get to a grocery store. Can’t pick up your prescriptions. So what do you do? They figure out a way to get around,” said Joetta Stevenson, President of the Greater Fifth Ward Super Neighborhood.
Stevenson noted that residents frequently take risks, such as crossing over or under trains, to navigate their daily lives. Milford McGrudy, a local resident, previously urged for infrastructure improvements, saying, “Don’t wait until I lose my son, my daughter, to build a bridge.”
Monday’s fatality occurred shortly after residents had a frustrating meeting with state and local lawmakers regarding the prolonged train stoppages. “We’ve got a dead body now. When does it stop?” asked resident Sandra Edwards.
Union Pacific explained that the trains in question are coming from the state’s busiest rail yard, heightening the urgency for a solution. Council Member Leticia Plummer expressed frustration over the lack of action, despite years of complaints and multiple meetings. Along with Council Member Tarsha Jackson, Plummer is pushing for infrastructure solutions like tunnels, bridges, and improved warning signs.
“I know it’s expensive, but these are people’s lives at stake,” Jackson stated. Plummer emphasized that while long-term solutions may be costly, immediate measures like warning signs should be prioritized. “Low-hanging fruit is what I want to focus on first,” she said, noting that signs would warn drivers if a train is stopped a mile ahead.
Plummer is also working to bring this issue to the City Council agenda and urged residents to report stopped trains to the Federal Railroad Administration. “I don’t want to hear any rhetoric. I want to see action,” Stevenson demanded.
As the city seeks state and federal funding, the calls for change are growing louder.
