Wednesday, December 18, 2024

a 15 year old died on the way to school, because he ignored the significance of train tracks, and so the mayor talked Union Pacific into adjusting it's train schedule to avoid passing by the high school when school lets out

Credit to the mayor, he realized the problem is NOT trains, who have a weird way of sticking to the same route, the same time, at the same speed and using a VERY LOUD horn

the mayor suggested the city install a pedestrian bridge near the high school

Does that keep 15 year olds from choosing to walk on train tracks? Nope. Choosing to cross where ever the hell, instead of at a street crossing? Nope. 

But it's a step in the right direction

A spokesperson for the railroad operator responded to the lawsuit saying, "Union Pacific shares Houston’s grief following Monday’s heartbreaking event when a teenager made a tragic decision to try and outrun a moving train. We want to remind students and others to only cross train tracks at designated crossings and never ignore train horns or the lights and safety gates. Our hearts go out to the family, students and the train crew who witnessed this terrible incident."

"Union Pacific appreciated today’s meeting with Houston Mayor John Whitmire. We agreed to immediately adjust our operations to avoid running trains near Milby High School for one hour during school drop-off and pick-up times and extending the sidewalks to enhance the crossing, while we collaborate on long-term solutions and additional rail safety outreach efforts."

https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/union-pacific-railroad-adjust-train-schedule-high-school-student-death-milby-sergio-rodriguez/285-701f9d18-b5e4-4149-bc22-3c4b0a582742




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