AI Technology Boosts Safety at Burlingame Rail Crossing, Says Caltrain
The Caltrain crossing along Broadway in Burlingame, famously identified as the riskiest railway intersection in the state It has received…
The
Caltrain
crossing along Broadway in Burlingame,
famously identified as the riskiest railway intersection in the state
It has received some recent improvements.
In November, Caltrain collaborated with an AI firm to deploy a new system known as RailSentry.
As described by Dan Lieberman, this system utilizes data from cameras and LiDAR sensors to examine railway crossings for the presence of individuals or vehicles that may pose a risk. If such hazards are detected, alerts are sent to our dispatch center enabling us to stop the trains as needed.
Lieberman serves as a spokesperson for Caltrain.
He mentions that the Broadway crossing has witnessed many crashes over the years.
“Possessing RailSentry would aid in ensuring greater safety for the general populace, facilitate the secure passage of trains through the region, and enable us to prevent additional accidents,” Lieberman stated.
MORE:
Bay Area officials appeal for funds to restore safety at what’s called ‘California’s most hazardous railway intersection.’
San Mateo County and Burlingame officials have discussed improvement projects for the Caltrain crossing here along Broadway for years now, but with tight budgets and ballooning costs, their feasibility has raised questions.
President David Canepa of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors has expressed his support for adopting the latest technology.
Canepa informs us that besides potentially saving lives, RailSentry might also serve as a means to cut costs over time.
Allowing it to be invested in other areas, as opposed to expensive infrastructure improvement projects.
“They may never get funded, or it may take 40 to 50 years,” Canepa said.
After being implemented in Burlingame, Caltrain reports that RailSentry has proven successful.
The firm has also recently implemented this technology at an additional location in Palo Alto, with Caltrain suggesting that further installations may follow suit.
Lieberman stated that they will proceed with further analysis, focusing on areas that require the most attention and where it could yield the greatest benefits.
The approximate expense for installing RailSentry at the Broadway crossing amounted to $300,000.
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