A Victory for Safer Crossings: SB 1555 Brings $250M to Texas Rail Safety
A Victory for Safer Crossings: SB 1555 Brings $250M to Texas Rail Safety
In a significant victory for transportation safety in Texas, Senate Bill 1555 (SB 1555) has been passed and signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott, allocating $250 million for railroad grade separation projects. TAG Houston’s “Green Light Houston Transportation Advocacy Day” in February 2025 was instrumental in securing this critical funding through its dedicated advocacy efforts. During this pivotal event, TAG representatives engaged directly with state legislators, including key authors and sponsors, to champion the urgent need for enhanced railroad crossing safety at the state level. The passage of SB 1555 marks a major step forward, providing vital funding for grade separations on local roads, allowing cities and counties to implement crucial safety upgrades without competing with state highway projects, and ultimately aiming to prevent future incidents and improve accessibility across Texas.
The History and Passage of SB 1555
Texas faces a significant challenge with railroad crossing safety, ranking as the second-highest state for fatalities. Houston has a staggering number of at-grade crossings—over 5,600—that present dangers for students and other everyday commuters. In late 2024, a tragic accident occurred, which made these dangers all too relevant. 15-year-old Sergio Rodriguez lost his life after being hit by a train in southeast Houston while attempting to cross the tracks on his way to class. Following this incident, leaders of both the legislature, rail-related industries, and communities affected came together to fight for a change. This heartbreaking event reignited calls for improved railroad safety, leading to the filing of Senate Bill 1555 (SB 1555) by the chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, the Honorable Robert Nichols of Senate District 3.
SB 1555 passed the Senate and House, and has been signed by Governor Greg Abbott, in turn allocating $250 million dollars for railroad grade separation projects. A key aspect of the bill is its focus on grade separations for roads not managed by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). This allows cities and counties to pursue crucial safety upgrades without having to compete with highway projects for funding. Ultimately, this initiative aims to reduce delays for emergency responders, improve economic accessibility, and, most critically, prevent future tragedies and save lives by clearing a path for our students and other everyday commuters that encounter railroad crossings.
TAG’s Impact- Greenlight Houston
In February 2025, the Transportation Advocacy Group (TAG) hosted its Green Light Houston Transportation Advocacy Day, an essential event for championing regional transportation needs. During these recent visits to the Texas Capitol, TAG’s representatives engaged directly with key legislators. Their mission: to ensure local priorities are heard and integrated into state-level policy and funding decisions. This dedicated advocacy provided crucial insights to state policymakers, particularly on transportation safety issues. By bringing the perspectives of local communities to the forefront, TAG helped shape policies and funding that directly impact Texas’ vital infrastructure.
The importance of such direct engagement can’t be overstated. As Jim Webb, CEO of The Goodman Corporation and TAG Board Member emphasized, “Advocacy days like Green Light Houston are essential for connecting regional priorities to state leadership. These conversations help build the relationships and momentum needed to advance transportation funding and resultant mobility solutions.”
We are pleased to say that, with help from Green Light Houston and the legislators that helped make SB 1555 possible [Senators Nichols, Alvarado (authors), Eckhardt, Hagenbuch, Johnson, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini (coauthors), Representatives Patterson, Hernandez, Mary Ann Perez, Harris Davila, Martinez Fischer (Sponsors), Collier, and Christina Morales (cosponsors)], we will be able to save lives and help countless Texans.
Thank you again to everyone who helped advocate for this change. This is an incredible step towards the transportation infrastructure that Texans deserve.
