Houston Trainwatch Working together to keep our city safe and moving Jack C. Hanagriff Houston Police Department Federal Railroad Administration Law Enforcement Liaison
Railroad Operations Traffic congestion Danger to community Quality of life issues Environmental hazard
A Broad-Based Partnership Union Pacific Rail, BNSF, PTRA, & KCS Houston Police Department (HPD) Federal Railroad Administration Department of Public Works & Engineering TranStar Texas Transportation Institute
A Commitment by Houston Railroads Will instruct its crews NOT to block crossings Will discipline crews that block crossings Will create staging areas for trains outside populated areas Will support city, state and federal efforts to create grade-separated crossings
What is a blocked crossing? A train stopped upon a crossing for more than five minutes No movement Additional movement stops the time keeping A slow moving train is not a violation
Train Watch Monitor Crossings Track Citizen Complaints regarding Railroad Operations Collect Data of Police Calls for Service Identify Locations that Hinder Emergency Response Time
Information from Citizens Call
Blocked Crossing Alert Citizen Calls 311 UNION PACIFIC Dispatches Unit Immediately Addresses Complaint HPD assesses severity of incident Average 61 CFS
Record Long Term Complaints Measure Quality of Life Issues Track Citizen Concerns
Train Watch – Camera Monitoring 19 Sites Monitored by Camera Internet Based Tracking Public Safety Tracking Transportation Mobility Data Compiled Times Trains Block Gates Down No Train Incidents at the Crossing
6:42 a.m. Tracking Signal Malfunctions
7:41 a.m.
7:42 a.m.
7:44 a.m. Tracking Blockages
8:16 a.m.
Tracking School Children Delayed by Trains
Patrol Alerts sent to impacted Police Stations Summary of behavior Related Statute Block Crossing Ordinance Trespassing Violations Traffic Code
Automatic Crossing Trigger
Emergency Responder Delay HFD tracking delays Information is plotted on a map Crossing Alarms utilize same map
Fire Station in Proximity to Crossings Notify Railroad of Emergency Run Railroad will attempt to assist by reducing blockages Hold Trains Attempt to Clear Crossings
Advanced Blocked Crossing Warning Message Board at Crossing with Estimated Wait Time Warning Signs Flash to Alert Motorists that crossing in use 31,985 ADTraffic
Successes Railroads and City of Houston working together to reduce incidents Citizens have a mechanism to voice concerns Complaint Tracking Identifies other Issues Illegal U-Turns on Crossings Train Horn Rule Violations