Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Announces $2 Million Grant for Rail Safety Improvements in Houston's East End

HOUSTON, TX - Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) is proud to announce that Harris County and the City of Houston have been awarded a $2 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for the East End Triangle R.A.I.L.S. (Resilience, Access, and Improved Logistics for Safety) Plan.

This funding will help address long-standing rail safety and mobility challenges in Houston's East End Triangle community and is a critical step toward preventing tragedies like the heartbreaking death of a Milby High School student struck by a train last December.

The grant will fund a comprehensive study to assess the impacts of trains at 14 train crossings in the East End Triangle. It will include data analysis, collaboration with railroads, emergency services, and other key groups, as well as community outreach to identify and recommend solutions to improve safety and mobility. Harris County and the City of Houston will provide a 20% match to the federal funds.

"For too long, train crossings have disrupted daily life in the East End-forcing residents to face freight trains up close, causing delays, and, in some cases, putting lives at risk. With this $2 million grant I fought for, we're finally giving our communities a long-overdue upgrade as we work toward a solution that prioritizes safety and quality of life," said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. "This grant will help address the dangers and disruptions caused by railroads intersecting our streets, creating a safer environment for everyone-kids walking to school, first responders on critical calls, and families going about their day. It's a meaningful step toward safer neighborhoods that East End residents deserve."

Last year, Congresswoman Garcia wrote to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in support of the grant, highlighting the challenges caused by frequent train stoppages and rail-to-road conflicts. She emphasized the need to address these issues as the East End transitions into a growing community of small businesses and mixed-use developments surrounded by high-frequency freight rail traffic. This funding builds on the many federal investments Congresswoman Garcia has secured for Houston's infrastructure as she works towards making our communities safer.

This initiative builds on Congresswoman Garcia's years of advocacy for rail safety. She previously hosted the FRA Administrator, Amit Bose, in August 2022 and February 2023 to hear from constituents directly about how Houston's rail trains impact their lives. Additionally, the Congresswoman plans to refile her Don't Block Our Communities (D-BLOC) Act, which would prohibit rail carriers from blocking intersections with passing trains for more than 10 minutes. Congresswoman Garcia is also working to propose legislation to make rail crossings near schools safer.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced that it has awarded more than $1.1 billion in Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program funding to 123 rail projects, improving or studying more than 1,000 highway-rail crossings nationwide. This announcement is the largest single investment in grade crossing safety in FRA's history. Combined with previous rail investments announced under the Biden-Harris Administration, FRA has now invested a historic $48.5 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding in more than 445 rail projects across the country and Amtrak.