Caution! METRO Light Rail Construction Coming by HISD Schools

Does your child know how to stay safe near a construction zone?

If not, then now is a great time to start talking to him or her about how to navigate one—particularly as three new METRO Light Rails (East End, Southeast, and North Corridors) are in the process of being built near 23 HISD schools (see list here; pdf).

Specifically, parents should teach children to:

• Be aware of construction zones in their neighborhood.
• Stay away from equipment and out of construction areas.
• Look for and obey signs as they walk or bike on sidewalks.

More than 15,000 HISD students have already received safety instruction regarding the dangers of construction zones through a district partnership with METRO Solutions called Community School Safety Education Program (CSSEP).

CCSEP’s curriculum covers safety rules, signs and symbols, and a “tour” of common pieces of equipment and machinery one might see at construction sites.

HISD crossing guards have also received instruction about these and other topics, such as the importance of wearing reflective vests, flagger awareness, and communication with law enforcement officials. The guards have been trained on how to report unsafe conditions at rail construction zones as well.

For more information about the Light Rail projects and how they may affect HISD campuses, visit the METRO website www.metrosolutions.org, contact Metro Manager Mike Martínez at mm41@ridemetro.org, or call HISD Risk Management at 713-220-5092.