The City of Houston has introduced a new initiative called the “Train Watch” webpage, which aims to provide residents with real-time information regarding rail crossings blocked by stopped trains.
This issue has particularly impacted areas on the east side of the city, where long waits at train crossings have been a persistent problem.
The Train Watch webpage leverages over $230,000 worth of donated railway sensor technology to monitor more than 70 railroad crossings within the city limits.
City officials announced that these efforts are part of a broader initiative to enhance rail crossing safety, which includes collaboration among city, county, and state officials.
Last year, Houston received a substantial $3.4 million federal grant that will be allocated, in part, to enhancing the sensor network used for the Train Watch project.
Jack Hanagriff, an independent contractor with the city, is leading the East Houston Rail Safety Focus Group, which plays a significant role in the Train Watch initiative.
Hanagriff indicated that while the project utilizes existing infrastructure to provide live train data, the ultimate goal is to improve accuracy with specialized sensors in the future.
He emphasized the mayor’s intention to equip citizens with better tools for real-time information about active crossings, allowing them to remain aware of potential delays.
However, Hanagriff acknowledged that implementing these advanced sensors and building necessary infrastructure like bridges and underpasses will require time.
Once the program is fully operational, the collected data from Train Watch is expected to be integrated into Houston TranStar, enabling services like Google Maps and Apple Maps to offer alternative routes to drivers when trains are stopped, which will enhance traffic flow.
“The aim is to ensure that first responders receive this information, and ultimately, make it publicly accessible through TranStar,” Hanagriff explained.
The quest to improve rail crossing safety gained urgency late last year after a tragic incident where a Milby High School student was hit by a train on his way to school.
In response to this tragedy, Harris County procured $2 million in federal funding to evaluate the safety of numerous railroad crossings in the area.
In the wake of this incident, the Texas Legislature also established a $350 million grant program specifically dedicated to funding projects that would create grade separations at crossroads of railroads and roadways.
Additionally, the state’s budget now includes $10 million earmarked for constructing a pedestrian bridge in memory of Sergio Rodriguez, the 15-year-old student who lost his life.
In conjunction with the construction of the pedestrian bridge and various grade separation projects, other local safety initiatives are already underway.
The East End District is currently piloting wayfinding signage designed to help guide pedestrians and drivers around railroad crossings, reducing the number of vehicles waiting at intersections.
New signs have been installed at several locations, including one at the Cullen Boulevard and Leeland Street intersection that directs traffic away from a crossing prone to delays.
Furthermore, Hanagriff mentioned that the team is considering the implementation of electronic signs that would activate ahead of crossings when a train is present, warning drivers in advance.
This would mitigate the chances of motorists getting stuck in traffic behind a train.
As these various initiatives progress—be it through bridges, digital trackers, or added signage—accurate data remains critical to ensuring enhanced safety along rail crossings.
“Collecting more data helps us pinpoint high-traffic hotspots, which is essential in addressing unsafe practices like risky driving behaviors or climbing through trains,” Hanagriff stated.
He underscored the importance of using data to build a comprehensive understanding of train activity’s impact on local neighborhoods, allowing for proactive safety measures before situations escalate into more serious incidents.
image source from：houstonpublicmedia
