A groundbreaking ceremony is underway for a pedestrian bridge honoring a Houston student killed by a train while walking to school.
Sergio Rodriguez, a 15-year-old sophomore at Milby High School, was struck and killed by a train in December 2024 while walking to school. His death sparked renewed calls for a safer way for students and neighbors to cross the nearby tracks.
Rodriguez’s parents are expected to attend Tuesday’s ceremony as construction officially begins on the bridge that will bear their son’s name.
Following Rodriguez’s death, Union Pacific made operational changes around school arrival and dismissal times and extended sidewalks near the crossing. But community members pushed for a more permanent solution.
What followed was a joint effort involving the state, the Texas Department of Transportation, the City of Houston and Union Pacific.
State Sen. Carol Alvarado helped secure $10 million in state funding for the design and construction of the bridge. TxDOT will oversee construction, working alongside the city, Union Pacific and other partners.
Once complete, the City of Houston will own and maintain the bridge, which will allow students and community members to pass over the tracks rather than crossing them on foot.
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