PRESS RELEASE
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Community-Led Safety Bill HB4543 Filed to Protect Students at Railroad Crossings Near Schools
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MARIN’s Law Honors the Life and Legacy of Barrington Student Marin Lacson
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Barrington, IL – The Barrington Student Safety Organization (BSSO) today announced the filing of HB4543 known as MARIN’s Law – Measures Against Railroad Injuries Near Schools – a landmark student safety bill conceived and advocated for by Roma Khan, Founder and President of BSSO.
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The legislation, named after Marin Lacson, who was fatally struck by a commuter train on her way to school, was formally filed in the Illinois General Assembly on January 22, 2026, by State Representative Nabeela Syed, with the support of the Lacson family.
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The filing date was intentionally chosen to honor Marin Lacson’s lacrosse jersey number – 22 – a symbol of her strength, kindness, and lasting impact on her community.
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MARIN’s Law HB4543 bill status and details are available at https://ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?GAID=18&DocNum=4543&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=165381&SessionID=114
What MARIN’s Law Does
The bill amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to require rail carriers operating in Illinois to install, operate, and maintain pedestrian crossing gates at every railroad grade crossing located within 1.5 miles of a school. The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is granted authority to determine the number, type, and placement of gates and to allocate installation and maintenance costs among rail carriers, public authorities, and the Illinois Department of Transportation, as applicable.
Why Pedestrian Gates Matter
Pedestrian gates are proven to change behavior and save lives: research from the Federal Railroad Administration shows that gates, especially when paired with skirts and active warning systems, significantly reduce dangerous pedestrian crossings compared with signs or warnings alone. As decades of housing, school, and railroad expansion have placed more students near active rail lines, increasing numbers of children now cross tracks daily on their way to school. Backed by data, pedestrian gates provide a life-saving barrier that protects children and other pedestrians.
Why 1.5 Miles Matters
The 1.5-mile standard is drawn from 105 ILCS 5/29-3, Illinois’ school transportation statute, which allows school districts to deny bus service to students living within that distance, and assigns school boards responsibility for assessing railroad crossing safety.
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“If the state requires children to walk up to a mile and a half to school,” Khan said, “then the state has a responsibility to ensure those routes are safe.”
A Tragedy That Sparked Change
On January 25, 2024, 17-year-old Marin Lacson was fatally struck by a Union Pacific Metra train while walking to school at a Barrington crossing that lacked pedestrian safety gates. The crossing allowed unrestricted access to the tracks despite limited visibility and trains traveling express speed in multiple directions.
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Marin’s death devastated the community and exposed critical gaps in pedestrian railroad safety near schools.
“This common sense amendment to the Illinois Vehicle Code is long overdue. It is now up to our lawmakers in Springfield to enact the change so that it doesn’t take another tragedy to occur before deciding that safety at a pedestrian crossing needs to be improved.” said Mike Lacson, Marin’s father.
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Just days after the tragedy, Roma Khan founded BSSO, mobilizing parents and residents to monitor multiple ungated railroad crossings within a 1.5-mile radius of 6 schools during school commute times, demand accountability, and push for permanent safety reforms, including crossing guards and pedestrian gates.
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For nearly two years, Khan monitored crossings, analyzed state safety statutes, worked closely with the Lacson family, and engaged in persistent monthly advocacy with local and state legislators to ensure lasting statewide change.
From Local Advocacy to Statewide Reform
While BSSO’s efforts began in Barrington, Khan recognized the risk exists across Illinois. MARIN’s Law establishes a uniform standard for pedestrian safety at grade crossings near schools, ensuring student safety is not left solely to local school board discretion.
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Representative Syed and her team partnered with BSSO and worked tirelessly to bring the legislation forward in Springfield.
“When a tragedy like the loss of Marin Lacson occurs, the least we can do is take meaningful steps to make our communities safer. MARIN's Law reflects the determination of the Lacson family and dedicated advocates to drive real safety reforms and prevent future loss. I am honored to sponsor this legislation and support their efforts in Springfield.” Syed said.
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Legislative Status
MARIN’s Law has been introduced in the Illinois House and will be assigned to relevant committees in the coming weeks. BSSO and the Lacson family urge bipartisan passage during the 2026 session.
BSSO will work with stakeholders, legislators, and community leaders to build collaborative support for this measure.
Honoring Marin’s Legacy
MARIN’s Law stands as a commitment to ensuring that no family has to endure a preventable loss. The bill honors Marin not only by name, but by action - transforming grief into lasting protection for students across Illinois.
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“With MARIN’s Law, Illinois will become a model for other states on protecting children and reducing railway related injuries and fatalities.” Khan said.
About Barrington Student Safety Organization
Founded in January 2024, BSSO is a grassroots, volunteer-led advocacy group dedicated to improving student safety through policy reform, infrastructure improvements, and public accountability. The organization works to ensure student safety is treated as a priority in communities throughout Illinois.
Media Contact
Roma Khan, Founder & President, BSSO
roma@barringtonstudentsafety.og
October and December, 2025
UP (Metra) Pedestrian Gates Hearing Update
October 8, 2025 Hearing:
At this status hearing, the Village of Barrington, IDOT, and Union Pacific reported ongoing progress on engineering design and legal coordination for the three crossing modifications in Barrington, with engineering roughly 75 % complete and circulating a draft agreed order among the parties. The Village and IDOT discussed continuing negotiations on real-estate rights (easement, deed, or license) needed for construction on Union Pacific property, and there was acknowledgment that final engineering and agreement language were still in development. Because those details were not yet finalized, parties agreed to schedule a follow-up status hearing in early December to continue tracking engineering completion and order drafting.
December 9, 2025 Hearing:
By the December status hearing, engineering plans had advanced to approximately 85-90 % complete and were under IDOT permit review, and Union Pacific had provided its cost estimates which the Village was using to prepare a cost-sharing table. Discussions on land acquisition also continued, with Union Pacific maintaining its position that a formal easement (not a simple license) would be required, and parties agreed to work through offline calls in January to resolve outstanding conditions. ICC staff noted they had just received cost estimates and still needed time to review them. A next status hearing was scheduled for February 10, 2026, as the project’s technical, legal, and financial details continued to be refined.
August 5, 2025
UP (Metra) Pedestrian Gates Hearing Update
ICC Petition Hearing
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As of the most recent update (August 2025), there have been three official Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) hearings held regarding the pedestrian gate installation project at the Union Pacific crossings in Barrington under Docket T25-0021:
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May 8, 2025 – Initial hearing following the Village and IDOT’s joint petition.
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June 5, 2025 – Second hearing where parties agreed on a draft interim order and discussed monthly updates.
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July 9, 2025 – Third hearing focused on a potential stipulated agreement and outstanding legal/engineering issues.
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August 13, 2025 – Scheduled as the fourth hearing. Here is the link to join. (Please turn off camera and mic before joining)
At the July 9 hearing for Docket T25-0021, the Village of Barrington, Union Pacific (UP), and IDOT discussed possibly expediting the pedestrian gate project by proceeding through a stipulated agreement rather than the full hearing process. A stipulated agreement refers to a mutually agreed-upon resolution among all involved parties (the Village of Barrington, Union Pacific Railroad, IDOT, and ICC staff) that outlines the terms of the project such as responsibilities, design approvals, funding, and legal access (easement vs. license) without requiring a contested, formal hearing process.
All parties tentatively agreed this could be viable, but key legal issues remain, namely, whether easements or licenses are needed for the affected crossings, and whether a separate construction and maintenance agreement is required. Engineering design work is progressing on schedule, and the Village has shared plans with UP to ensure coordination. ICC staff emphasized the need to resolve outstanding issues (legal agreements and construction cost estimates) before choosing a procedural path. The parties agreed to hold an offline coordination meeting to work through details.
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It will be helpful if you could leave public comment here for the judge, UP, and Village to take into consideration as they conduct these hearings. Please feel free to share this post in its entirety with anyone seeking updates on the status, and wishes to leave a public comment.
Village Correspondences
We have reached out to the Village for next steps, and when they are starting the contractor bidding process considering the additional risk they have added by approving two massive apartment complexes within feet of where Marin was struck.
Here is their response.
The Village, through Deputy Village Manager Marie Hansen and its legal counsel Rebecca Bateman, explained that no pedestrian gates can be installed until the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) issues a formal order authorizing the work. Once that order is in place, and after IDOT permits and Union Pacific (UP) approvals are secured, the Village will update the project plans and specifications accordingly. These documents will then be issued for public bidding.
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The Village outlined its standard bid process, including public postings, a 30-day contractor review period, bid opening, review for accuracy, and eventual presentation to the Village Board for approval. While we inquired about engaging contractors early in anticipation of the ICC approval, the Village clarified that work on the new crossings cannot proceed until ICC approval is granted and UP plans are finalized. The Village emphasized that the awarded contractor will coordinate with UP, who is responsible for installing the gates and crossing elements, while the Village contractor handles related roadway and sidewalk work.
In summary, the Village is awaiting regulatory approvals before it can proceed to construction bids and shared that it will follow procedural steps required for public infrastructure construction projects.
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As per the Village website's latest updates, UP will complete their plans by fall. We have asked them to expedite the Village's review and approval of the final plans thereafter so we are not delayed by the holidays.
Springfield and DC Help
State Representative Nabeela Syed and her office have been helping this year, and are keeping an eye on the hearings. They will reach out to ICC, IDOT and UP on our behalf if there are any concerns with the hearings. So far, all parties are being cooperative. Representative McLaughlin and State Senator Darby Hills have also offered to help. We are in touch with US Senator Tammy Duckworth's office as well on this issue to raise awareness if there are challenges in getting these gates installed.
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Thank you for your support as we continue to work and fight for our community's safety. Have a great day.