Texas A&M/TxDOT team wins advisory committee support to deploy border wait‑time sensors at Laredo bridges

Daniel Radolf, a researcher with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), described a TxDOT‑sponsored Border Wait Time Measurement System (BWTMS) that uses RFID readers, Bluetooth and Wi‑Fi sensors to estimate commercial and passenger vehicle wait and crossing times at international bridges. Radolf said the system re‑identifies vehicles across up to four station locations and updates wait‑time metrics every 10 minutes.

Radolf told the committee the system provides both real‑time displays for operators and a historical database that can be used by planners and policy makers. He said Texas is funding the installation and that Texas A&M would implement and operate the system. “No construction work required. No money from the city to install, operate, or maintain. Texas is paying for that, and we, Texas A&M, are implementing and operating the system for you,” Radolf said.

TTI asked the committee for permission to install sensors at multiple crossings where city permission is required. Radolf identified five proposed sensor locations for Gateway (Gateway to the Americas): Santa Maria and Grand Street; Santa Maria and Water Street; the City of Laredo parking lot; the city toll booth; and the CBP primary lane. He said installations use existing poles where possible, can run on solar power and will transmit anonymized data to a cloud platform.

Committee members sought details about public access and secondary inspections. Radolf said the project is intended to disseminate information broadly — TxDOT’s plan envisions public and industry access — and that the current rollout is a beta that TxDOT is vetting. He said TTI can provide bridge staff and committee members with access prior to public release and that the system can differentiate lane types in later phases.

City staff warned an agreement will be required before hardware is mounted on city property. A city staff member identified as Elsa said a formal agreement and review by city counsel would be necessary before installations proceed. Radolf and the TxDOT contact on the phone, Jorge Martinez, said TxDOT and CBP had agreed in principle and that TTI expected written CBP concurrence to follow.

A motion to approve the project and support presentation to the city and TxDOT was moved and seconded; the committee approved the motion on a voice vote with no opposition recorded. TTI said the planned deployment aims to finalize northern‑direction installations across Texas border crossings by the end of the fiscal year and then extend to southbound and passenger vehicle coverage.