Union Pacific & HPD Crack Down on Railroad Crossing Violations in Harris County

Rail Safety Week Initiative

• 🚂 Union Pacific is partnering with Houston Police for rail safety week to address dangerous behavior near railroad tracks.
• 👮 Officers are riding in locomotives to observe and deter risky actions by drivers and pedestrians at crossings.

Enforcement and Violations

• 🚨 During a ride-along, several drivers were caught violating safety measures at the roughly 700 railroad crossings in Harris County.
• ⚠️ Common violations include stopping on top of the tracks, which is explicitly warned against.
• 🛑 Drivers are reminded to stop at least 15 feet behind the gate arms when signals are active.

Preventing Tragedies

• 💡 The primary goal is to prevent tragedies by emphasizing the deadly consequences of ignoring warning signals.
• 💔 The initiative is highlighted by the tragic death of a 15-year-old student, Sergio Rodriguez, who was killed by a train last December.

UP Cares Program

• 🤝 Union Pacific's UP Cares program (Crossing Accident Reduction Education and Safety) is a community outreach effort.
• ✅ Its aim is to encourage safer decisions around tracks and reduce accidents, especially as Houston and Harris County continue to grow.
• 📈 Leaders emphasize that most crashes and fatalities are preventable if railway warnings are heeded.