After November surge, Houston Metro to focus on increased rail safety efforts

HOUSTON — Despite making several efforts to increase rail safety over the years, Houston Metro logged its second-worst month for train crashes in November, which is now forcing transit officials to plan on stepping up police traffic enforcement to keep car and truck drivers from turning into the train, the Houston Chronicle reports.

Fifteen crashes occurred along the light rail in November, which is the second-highest monthly total in more than a year. In that time, the number of incidents involving vehicles and pedestrians topped 10 in only three months.

Metro’s CEO Tom Lambert told the Chronicle that 60% of the agency’s accidents are illegal left turns along the rail corridor, which is what the agency will focus its increased efforts on. For the full story, click here.