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HARLINGEN -- Railroad crossings are no stranger to Rio Grande Valley residents.

A report released by the Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Association (TRRIA) ranked Cameron County 8th out of the state’s 12 most dangerous counties for rail safety.

"There are cases where you have people who actually trespass and go a track while the gate is coming down,” said TRRIA spokesman John Egan.

Driver carelessness is one factor but railroad maintenance is another.

Many railroad crossings in rural areas of Cameron County and Texas don't have signal lights or barriers making these crossing very dangerous.

That was the case in 2005, when one man was killed and two women were injured at a railroad crossing in Rancho Viejo.

The train struck the van and dragged it more than 1,500 feet.  

Authorities said the man drove the van in front of the train. That intersection did not have any barriers.

"What we would like to see happen is more money come from the state to improve our rail system both fright rail and passenger rail so that safety would be improved,” Egan said.

Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos said that's something the county has already started doing by implementing the West Rail Project.

This project will attempt to move every railroad westward to decrease the number of dangerous crossings.

"If you go into downtown Brownsville not very far from here, there used to be trains that would come through here," Cascos said. "Those are pretty much eliminated."

Egan said the TRRIA is working this legislative session to get more money dedicated to a rail relocation and improvement fund.