San Antonio is taking a significant step towards easing traffic congestion caused by trains at railroad crossings. Earlier this year, District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez initiated a request for city staff to explore the feasibility of a real-time train notification system. This system is intended to alert drivers about approaching or stationary trains, allowing them to adjust their routes accordingly and avoid potential delays.
Feasibility and Challenges
After thorough research, city staff concluded that while the project is feasible, it requires the assembly of a dedicated team to develop the system. During a recent transportation and infrastructure committee meeting, staffers presented their findings to council members. They highlighted the absence of a publicly available technology capable of detecting trains on tracks, measuring their speed and length, and sharing this information in real-time with navigation apps like Apple or Google Maps.
One of the main challenges identified is the reluctance of railroad companies to share their tracking information due to security concerns. To address this, city staff recommended collaborating with the Southwest Research Institute, a local entity known for its AI-based camera detection technology, Activision. This technology, which currently detects wrong-way drivers and pedestrians, would need to be adapted to identify trains.
Next Steps and Collaboration
Once the detection technology is in place, the city will need to find ways to disseminate the information through apps or city websites. Staffers are also considering potential collaboration with the Florida Department of Transportation, which has a data exchange communication system that could be beneficial to the project.
The committee, including Councilman McKee-Rodriguez, voted in favor of moving forward with the pilot project. The development of the system is expected to take several months, with a progress report and initial cost analysis anticipated by the end of the year.
Original reporting: San Antonio, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
