Committee backs package of road and rail projects including Train Flow Mobility sensors

Macomb County commissioners’ committee voted 13-0 to forward a package of transportation projects and contracts that includes a purchase of a rail crossing detection and analytics system and multiple Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) rehabilitation contracts.

The committee combined Items 7A through 7I and voted to move the package to the full Board of Commissioners. The package includes a proposed $61,895 purchase for Train Flow Mobility devices and installation, two MDOT rehabilitation contracts totaling about $7.86 million, soil-boring contracts for upcoming projects, a road-safety audit, pump-station maintenance changes with Harrison Township and a traffic-control device paid for by New Haven Community Schools.

The combined package is intended to address recurring rail-crossing blockages and several roadway and bridge maintenance projects across the county. The roadwork items include two MDOT contracts: rehabilitation of North River Road (I-94 to Bridgeview Street) at a total cost of $2,363,500 and rehabilitation work on 14 Mile Road, including the 14 Mile Road over Red Run Drain and a section from Van Dyke to Hoover, at a total cost of $5,500,150. Department staff said both MDOT projects are federally funded with an approximate 80% federal / 20% local match split among the county and partner municipalities.

The presentation described the Train Flow Mobility purchase as a system to monitor about 60 rail crossings on county jurisdictional roadways. Brian, a road department staff presenter, said the crossings are “active more than a combined 1,300 times a day,” and that the system will provide “real time reliable information, blockage insights, summarizing rail crossing blockages and congestion analytics tools.” He said the county will install four sensors and interpolate activity at four additional crossings as part of the initial deployment. The $61,895 figure was presented as covering installation, devices and the first annual subscription; the presenter said subsequent subscription costs would be budgeted in future years.

Commissioners asked how the Train Flow Mobility system would integrate with the county’s existing video and traffic operations platform, and whether analytics would be run on-site or via a vendor cloud. Commissioner Van Sickle asked, “Is that analysis run by the vendor software on-site or is it shipped off to the vendor site and they do it there and send you the reports?” The presenter said he would check and follow up about where the analytics run and confirmed county IT will be involved in cybersecurity protections for any video or analytics integrations.

Other items in the package included: - A maintenance-agreement change with Harrison Township regarding 27 pump stations within the township; under the new arrangement the township will operate and maintain the stations and invoice the county for the county’s share. The presenter described the arrangement as cost-share invoicing under a maintenance agreement. - A SEMCOG (Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments) road-safety audit for two intersections in the county, presented as an 80/20 federal/local match for study funding. The audits are described as field reviews to produce recommendations for future budgeting and safety improvements. - Soil boring contracts with Mannik & Smith for geotechnical work: one task for 22 borings ($70,816) and another for 31 borings ($91,304), presented as preparatory work for signal foundations and other structures. - A cost-share agreement with Chesterfield Township related to limestone resurfacing and a cost-share agreement with New Haven Community Schools for a signalized traffic control device at Endeavor School on 26 Mile Road; the New Haven device was presented as 100% paid by the school district and with the district responsible for future operations and maintenance.

Committee members pressed for follow-up details on several items, including exact sensor/camera locations for the train analytics system and timelines for the New Haven signal installation. Brian said he would provide location lists and check procurement/order timelines for the signal materials.

The committee’s motion to combine Items 7A–I and forward them to the full board carried, 13-0. The presenter said the Train Flow Mobility subscription and other ongoing service costs would appear in future budgets. No final construction start dates were stated in the committee presentation.

Votes and next steps: The committee approved forwarding the combined package to the full Board of Commissioners by a 13-0 vote; the full board will consider contract awards, budget amendments and intergovernmental agreements as presented in the package.