Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Train Notification Pilot topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
San Antonio committee approves prototype for real‑time train notifications
Summary
The Transportation Infrastructure Committee approved a staff recommendation to prototype a real‑time train notification system using camera/sensor detection, predictive modeling and communications integration, with a pilot led with Southwest Research and a progress report expected by year’s end.
The Transportation Infrastructure Committee voted June 2 to accept staff’s recommendation to develop a prototype real‑time notification system for trains approaching or stopped at railroad crossings, aiming to reduce long motorist delays and improve public safety.
City staff described a three‑layer approach: detection (sensors or camera systems to identify trains), a prediction layer (estimating train speed and length to forecast downstream impacts), and a communication layer (pushing alerts to first‑responder CAD systems, city channels and consumer navigation apps). "Our research did not find that there was any single solution that could handle all 3 of those layers," Matt Reed of the city’s ITSD emerging technologies team told the committee, arguing a prototype would let staff combine technologies and test integration in high‑impact corridors.
Staff said its vendor conversations included private and public efforts and recommended a pilot partnership with Southwest Research to adapt a camera‑based detection system and a data‑exchange platform. The proposed prototype would first train detection models, then develop predictive logic to estimate when a train detected at one location will reach the next crossing, and finally test dissemination to external platforms. Staff told the committee the detection step will likely require several months to train and validate.
Councilmembers pressed staff on costs, statewide scaling and how the system would work with mapping providers. Staff said the initial pilot would be a limited deployment they expect to fund from current operations; a full‑scale rollout would likely be considered in the FY28 budget after pilot results are available. Staff also said integration with third‑party mapping apps (for example Waze and Apple Maps) is a stated goal if the pilot proves the concept and data exchange protocols.
The committee made a motion to accept staff's recommendation and advanced the pilot; the motion passed by voice vote. Staff committed to report back to the committee — staff noted a likely progress update by the end of the calendar year — and to continue work on necessary data sharing, privacy and partnership agreements before any broader rollout.
