Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 13
Workload; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Incursion Runway
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors; Procedure
We were in the last part of a large departure push. I was working the Tower Local Control position. I had 4 aircraft ready to depart. Three were at one runway and one was at an intersecting runway. I was departing a business jet from an intersecting runway. As the taxiing Aircraft X turned north; I lined Aircraft Y up on the runway. With my plan firmly in my head; I would depart Aircraft Y then I would allow Aircraft X to cross the runway 4 at a taxiway. When the ground controller coordinated the crossing; I had my plan made and did not realize the crossing was before Aircraft Y. I cleared Aircraft Y for takeoff. The aircraft rotated and was airborne before the taxiway. The ASDE-X alerted. I saw Aircraft X approaching the runway; but in my mind the aircraft would hold short of the runway.All the memory aids were in use. Maybe additional training on expectation bias would help.
Taxing to the active runway we were cleared to cross the runway at a taxiway on two separate occasions within 30 seconds. We both looked at the approach end of the runway and confirmed an aircraft in position as Ground Control had indicated. My First Officer confirmed with me that he was not moving. I also looked and agreed that he was not moving. I now concentrated on steering the aircraft on the taxi line while crossing the runway. My First Officer then stated Aircraft Y was indeed rolling down the runway. I applied brakes; but was not able to stop before entering the runway. Aircraft Y rotated and over flew us. We immediately queried Ground and they confirmed for a 3rd time that we were cleared to cross the runway.
HOU Tower Controller and flight crew reported the Controller cleared them to cross a runway at the same time a departure was beginning its takeoff roll.