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Rail News: Passenger Rail
1/9/2009
Rail News: Passenger Rail
Texas rail association ranks counties with highest rail accident rates
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In Texas, 40 railroads operate on 15,000 miles of track — the highest route mileage of any state. So, more grade crossing accidents and incidents occur in Texas than in any other state, according to the Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Association.
Between 1998 and 2007, 12,271 rail accidents and incidents, 853 deaths and 7,203 injuries occurring in Texas were reported to the Federal Railroad Administration. The association — which comprises municipal, county and state elected officials and other organizations interested in improving transportation in Texas — recently issued a report detailing which counties had the most train-vehicle collisions and deaths during the past decade.
"Dangerous Dozen: Rail Safety in Texas" ranks counties in the following order:
1. Harris County: 1,376 accidents and incidents, 90 deaths, 1,145 injuries
2. Tarrant County: 799 accidents and incidents, 39 deaths, 710 injuries
3. Bexar County: 493 accidents and incidents, 51 deaths, 519 injuries
4. Dallas County: 356 accidents and incidents, 38 deaths, 225 injuries
5. Webb County: 331 accidents and incidents, 17 deaths, 282 injuries
6. El Paso County: 282 accidents and incidents, 34 deaths, 231 injuries
7. Jefferson County: 222 accidents and incidents, eight deaths, 154 injuries
8. Cameron County: 144 accidents and incidents, seven deaths, 124 injuries
9. Brazoria County: 143 accidents and incidents, eight deaths, 112 injuries
10. Potter County: 123 accidents and incidents, nine deaths, 111 injuries
11. Fort Bend County: 121 accidents and incidents, 15 deaths, 77 injuries
12. Bell County: 116 accidents and incidents, 16 deaths, 97 injuries
"In Texas, millions and millions of dollars are needed to improve the safety of our rail system, including re-routing freight tracks away from congested urban areas and fixing an assortment of dangerous at-grade rail crossings," said Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Association Executive Director Bruce Todd in a prepared statement.
During the state legislature's 2009 session, the association plans to pursue options for funding to relocate and improve rail lines. The funding would create a revenue stream that could leverage billions of dollars in bonding authority to improve transportation safety, ease congestion at hundreds of crossings, increase freight-rail capacity, and open up existing freight lines for passenger traffic.
Between 1998 and 2007, 12,271 rail accidents and incidents, 853 deaths and 7,203 injuries occurring in Texas were reported to the Federal Railroad Administration. The association — which comprises municipal, county and state elected officials and other organizations interested in improving transportation in Texas — recently issued a report detailing which counties had the most train-vehicle collisions and deaths during the past decade.
"Dangerous Dozen: Rail Safety in Texas" ranks counties in the following order:
1. Harris County: 1,376 accidents and incidents, 90 deaths, 1,145 injuries
2. Tarrant County: 799 accidents and incidents, 39 deaths, 710 injuries
3. Bexar County: 493 accidents and incidents, 51 deaths, 519 injuries
4. Dallas County: 356 accidents and incidents, 38 deaths, 225 injuries
5. Webb County: 331 accidents and incidents, 17 deaths, 282 injuries
6. El Paso County: 282 accidents and incidents, 34 deaths, 231 injuries
7. Jefferson County: 222 accidents and incidents, eight deaths, 154 injuries
8. Cameron County: 144 accidents and incidents, seven deaths, 124 injuries
9. Brazoria County: 143 accidents and incidents, eight deaths, 112 injuries
10. Potter County: 123 accidents and incidents, nine deaths, 111 injuries
11. Fort Bend County: 121 accidents and incidents, 15 deaths, 77 injuries
12. Bell County: 116 accidents and incidents, 16 deaths, 97 injuries
"In Texas, millions and millions of dollars are needed to improve the safety of our rail system, including re-routing freight tracks away from congested urban areas and fixing an assortment of dangerous at-grade rail crossings," said Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Association Executive Director Bruce Todd in a prepared statement.
During the state legislature's 2009 session, the association plans to pursue options for funding to relocate and improve rail lines. The funding would create a revenue stream that could leverage billions of dollars in bonding authority to improve transportation safety, ease congestion at hundreds of crossings, increase freight-rail capacity, and open up existing freight lines for passenger traffic.
