Dr. Shelbi Blackmon

This week, 15-year-old Sergio Rodriguez tragically lost his life near Milby High School in Houston, where he attended, when he was hit by a train. This should never have happened. I just learned the neighborhood has asked for a pedestrian bridge for students to safely cross the train tracks for years. I don’t know why they don’t have a bridge, but that’s about to change. Over the past year, the Texas Senate Committee on Transportation has taken up the interim charges I issued and examined issues surrounding railroad-grade crossings. Last month, I told @TxDOT Commissioner Steve Alvis to make sure TxDOT requested more funds to address these problems. These crossings cause tremendous traffic congestion across the state and are very dangerous. Texas is number one in the nation for accidents at railroad-grade crossings. This upcoming legislative session, I will ask Sen. @CarolForTexas, a Milby High School graduate, to carry a bill to allow this bridge to be built and name it after Sergio. His family and friends will never forget him. I want to make sure Texans never forget him as well. Houston Mayor @Whitmire_John has asked @UnionPacific to pay for a pedestrian bridge for Milby High School students to get to school safely. If Union Pacific does not step up, I will ask members of the Texas Senate and House to carve out funds to build this bridge as soon as possible in Sergio’s memory. @HouMayor @Whitmire_John and @HoustonISD should make this a priority item, start the design, and fast-track this project. The students and neighborhood deserve to be safe. #txlege