East Houston Lockwood Crossing Wins $10 Million Federal Grant
Harris County secured funding for an underpass design to solve chronic train delays that have generated 23,000 resident complaints since 2021.
By Giulia Marshall ·
More than $10 million in federal money is heading to Lockwood Drive in east Houston to address a railroad crossing that routinely traps cars and delays ambulances. The Federal Railroad Administration selected the site for its Railroad Crossing Elimination/Crossing Safety Program.
Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia explained the plan to the news outlet ABC13. The goal is a grade separation, which means building an underpass so that either the trains or the cars will pass beneath the other. This design eliminates the intersection where the two currently meet at the same level.
The FRA cited improved rail safety and faster emergency response times as primary reasons for choosing this specific project. Trains at this crossing frequently block traffic for extended periods, creating a bottleneck that hampers first responders.
Residents have voiced frustration over this issue for years. Data reviewed by 13 Investigates shows the FRA received 23,000 complaints regarding stalled trains blocking intersections in Houston since 2021. The majority of those complaints originated from the east side of the city, specifically citing crossings on Eastwood Street, Leeland, and South Lockwood.
Garcia noted that the current federal grant covers only the design phase of the underpass. The county will need to secure separate funding for the construction work. Officials have not provided a timeline for when the physical build-out will begin or finish.
