Cypress residents say stalled trains and malfunctioning railroad crossing arms near Fry Road are causing long delays and safety concerns for drivers.
Houston weather: Tornado watch canceled across Southeast Texas, isolated storms redevelop behind line Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo alleges being shoved by RodeoHouston security over $425 seat disputeCenterPoint, Entergy outage tracker: Customers without power as severe storms pummel Houston area Read full article: CenterPoint, Entergy outage tracker: Customers without power as severe storms pummel Houston areaSenior Scholarship recipient Elizabeth Swoboda succeeds through grit, determination at Stratford High SchoolThe issue comes as the Cypress area continues rapid growth, with new developments and the planned Texans Toro District nearby.
– Homeowners in the Cypress area say a railroad crossing near Fry Road and Hempstead Highway has become a regular source of frustration and in some cases, a potential safety concern. Neighbors tell KPRC 2 News trains frequently stop on the tracks for long periods of time, sometimes blocking the intersection for close to an hour.Many people who live near the crossing in the Blackhorse Ranch community say they never know when the delays will happen, but they say it occurs at least once a week. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo alleges being shoved by RodeoHouston security over $425 seat dispute “When it’s stopped on the track, it’s minimal an hour,” said homeowner Chrissy Aja. “You’re not moving. That is consistent.”“It was moving back and forth, which was kind of weird,” she said. “I thought once it started moving it might get out of the way, but it just kept moving back and forth.”People often make illegal U-turns, run red lights, or drive aggressively to get around the traffic backups, according to Aja. “That’s just leading to dangerous things to happen,” she said. “People get more aggressive and could potentially hurt someone.”In addition to stalled trains, residents say the railroad crossing arms sometimes malfunction and stay down even when no train is present. In a video shared with KPRC 2’s community news partner Grizzy’s Hood News, a man can be seen getting out and lifting the crossing arms so drivers could take turns passing through the intersection.Alexa Aja says she had seen crossing arms stuck before, but the situation still surprised her. Frustrated with the ongoing issues, Chrissy sent an email to Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey’s office asking for help addressing the problem.She also copied KPRC 2 News on the message in hopes of bringing more attention to the situation affecting Cypress residents.“Trains frequently stop and completely block this intersection for extremely long periods of time often close to an hour…many of us have been late to work, school, and appointments because of these repeated blockages.” Aja also mentioned issues with the crossing arms staying down when no train is present and noted that residents often warn each other about blockages in local Facebook groups. “This intersection serves a large and growing community,” Aja wrote. “The repeated blockages are becoming a major daily disruption for residents.”“Due to strict federal guidelines, the County does not have jurisdiction over the Union Pacific Railroad ,” the office said in a statement. His office added they remain in communication with a liaison at Union Pacific to advocate for residents’ concerns. Precinct 3 leaders also noted a more than $70 million partnership project that will build an underpass on Greenhouse Road to help drivers avoid the Union Pacific rail line in the future.Union Pacific told KPRC 2 News its goal is to keep trains moving safely and efficiently but said several factors can cause crossings to become blocked. The railroad encourages residents experiencing issues to report them at up.com/notifyup or by calling its 24-hour emergency response center. Residents say the issue is especially concerning as the Cypress area continues to grow rapidly, with new developments and the planned Houston Texans Toro District expected to bring even more traffic. “We love the businesses, we love the homes, and we love people moving here,” Chrissy Aja said. “But our infrastructure isn’t set up for it.”“We support the railroad. We know that’s bringing supplies back and forth,” she said. “But there’s got to be another solution.”“Union Pacific has been serving America for 164 years, delivering goods communities rely on. Cities and towns grew up along our network for a reason – we are a vital economic link that connects shippers and buyers to each other, and the world. Union Pacific’s goal is to keep trains moving safely and efficiently – a stopped train isn’t good for our customers or communities. There are a number of variables that can lead to blocked crossings, such as unplanned weather events that cause track blockages/damage, signal malfunctions, trains operating under reduced speed restrictions or mechanical issues.Due to strict federal guidelines, the County does not have jurisdiction over the Union Pacific Railroad . We are in constant communication with our UPRR liaison advocating for the community over concerns like these. In the past, we’ve successfully flagged issues, including one where a homeless encampment caused a faulty switch that kept railroad bars down. Precinct 3 also has plans to address traffic issues in the area, such as the $70M+ partnership project that builds an underpass on Greenhouse Road to avoid the UPRR, as well as coordinating the completion of Mueschke Road at US 290.”Tornado Watch issued for Houston, Southeast Texas | Here's what we knowSugar Land postal worker accused of stealing mail may have targeted envelopes with checks insideFort Bend ISD school closures: What happens next for students, parents, and teachersCover up, Houston! Here's the timeline of Wednesday's stormSuspect with rifle killed after firing at SWAT officer during standoff at SE Houston house$350K in missing tools bought with your tax moneyRemember in 2024? ⚠️ Hail hits Houston Rodeo
Stalled Train Malfunction Railroad Crossing Harris County
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
ERA Road Tour: Weekly Road Diary (March 2-7)More Than A Magazine, A Movement
Read more »
Pct. 4 deputies arrest bomb threat suspect in Cypress, recover assault rifle, bomb-making componentsAuthorities said deputies arrested the suspect in Cypress after he called law enforcement and said he was planning to detonate explosive devices and conduct a mass shooting.
Read more »
Diesel fumes, engine noise: Cypress-area neighbors say they can’t use their backyardsHomeowners say they’ve documented months of disruption and want enforcement -- or a fix -- so they can use their yards again.
Read more »
Cypress man arrested after alleged bomb threat and mass shooting plan, authorities sayA Cypress man is facing felony charges after authorities say he threatened to detonate explosive devices and carry out a mass shooting.
Read more »
Man killed after being hit by train near Hirsch Road in northeast HoustonA man was killed Wednesday after he was hit by a train along railroad tracks parallel to Hirsch Road in northeast Houston, according to police.
Read more »
Microsoft Copilot Cowork and the Rise of AI ‘Brain Fry’New agentic AI tools can increase productivity but also pull users in many different directions, which new research suggests can leave them experiencing ‘brain fry.’
Read more »