The Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 1555, aimed at funding safer railroad crossings in response to the death of a Houston ISD student.
The legislation proposes a $350 million grant program for railroad-highway grade separation projects to improve safety at rail intersections.
Senators Robert Nichols and Carol Alvarado co-authored the bill, reflecting bipartisan efforts from East Texas and Houston.
The initiative arose after the fatal incident involving Houston ISD student Sergio Rodriguez, who was struck by a train.
The Texas Department of Transportation will oversee the grant program to separate railroads from roadways.
If approved by the House, local sources will need to contribute to the projects’ funding.
The proposal includes plans for a pedestrian bridge at the site of Rodriguez’s death to prevent similar incidents.