HOUSTON – The Houston Independent School District (HISD) is taking action following the tragic death of 15-year-old Sergio Rodriguez, who was struck and killed by a train while walking to Milby High School on Monday morning. The incident has brought renewed attention to the safety of students who cross dangerous railroad tracks on their way to school, including those near Waltrip High School, where many parents say they regularly see students running across the tracks.
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At a recent safety meeting, HISD Superintendent Mike Miles shared that the district has partnered with the City of Houston to identify the schools most at risk from nearby railroad crossings.
HISD officials also acknowledged that 118 of the district’s 274 schools are located near railroad crossings. Of those, nine have been identified as having particularly hazardous conditions, with Milby High School being one of the most at-risk campuses.
- Milby High School
- Waltrip High School
- McReynolds Middle School
- Forest Brook Middle School
- Kashmere High School
- Cooke Elementary School
- Burnett Elementary School
- Tijerina Elementary School
- Roosevelt Elementary School
Tiffany LeBlanc is an HISD alum, and a parent of a student at Waltrip High School. She expressed concern about the dangerous crossing near the school. She stated that she frequently sees students crossing the tracks, especially in the mornings when students are rushing to school.
“It’s dangerous,” LeBlanc said. “Some years ago, a student did attend here and got hit by a train—this was back in the early 2000s. It’s a serious problem that needs to be addressed.”
To address the safety concerns, Superintendent Miles outlined several measures being considered. Families who are concerned about dangerous crossings can request hazardous route transportation through the school district.
HISD will work with families to ensure that students have access to safer routes to school, including potentially providing additional bus service for those affected by these hazardous crossings.
Miles also mentioned the possibility of building skybridges near the most dangerous railroad crossings.
However, he acknowledged the challenges of such projects, which would require significant funding and cooperation with Union Pacific, the railroad company responsible for many of the tracks in Houston.
“It costs money to build a bridge, and that also has to be inter-governmental, right, with Union Pacific, unless all agencies can really force them to build bridges,” Miles said during the meeting. “Again, it’s a city with a lot of tracks.”
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Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has also weighed in on the issue, calling for immediate action to improve safety for students. Patrick has stated that if Union Pacific does not take steps to build a pedestrian bridge over the tracks near Milby High School, he will push for state legislation to fund the construction of a bridge during the upcoming legislative session.
Despite the district’s plans, many parents are still concerned for their children’s safety. Several parents have said they prefer to drive their kids to school rather than risk the hazardous crossings, especially after the fatal accident involving Rodriguez.
As the district works with local authorities and railroad companies to address the issue, it remains to be seen whether these efforts will lead to the swift implementation of safety measures or if further action, such as state legislation, will be necessary to protect students and prevent further tragedies.
SEE ALSO: University of Houston historian breaks down East End’s well-known railroad track dangers
For now, HISD parents are holding their breath, hoping that the city, district, and state can come together to ensure their children can safely get to school.
