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Senate creates grant program for railroad grade separations, requires 10% local match
Summary
The Texas Senate passed committee substitute for Senate Bill 1555 on March 25, 2025, establishing a competitive grant program to fund rail‑grade separation projects on local (non‑state) roads; the measure requires a 10% local match and directs TxDOT to administer awards.
On March 25, 2025 the Texas Senate approved the committee substitute for Senate Bill 1555, creating a competitive grant program to fund railroad grade separation projects located on city and county roads that are not part of the state highway system.
Senator Nichols, who led the Article 6/7/8 work group and presented the measure, said the program is intended to “improve safety, emergency response times, economic productivity, congestion mitigation, and so much more.” The bill requires a 10 percent local match from the political subdivision receiving a grant and directs the Texas Department of Transportation to award grants and competitively bid the projects.
Senator Alvarado and others praised the bill as complementary to other Senate investments in rail safety. The committee substitute passed to engrossment and final passage on a recorded vote of 31 ayes and no nays.
Senators noted the measure is intended to help local governments pay for grade separations at busy crossings; a separate budget item in the Senate package also earmarked significant funding for grade separations and crossings in some instances.
