GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – There could be a solution coming for those pesky trains that often lock up traffic in downtown Green Bay.
City of Green Bay officials are researching applications that would tell people when railroad crossings are closed and what time they are expected to open.
“I can count on both hands and feet numerous times how many times I’ve had to wait for a train or a boat,” said Alderperson Mark Steuer, who submitted a communication recently for city officials to look into an app. “Janesville has had this for some time. Fond du Lac has utilized this for some time.”
“We like to think of this as a sort of the virtual bridge or tunnel because it has the same effect,” said Kurt Brandt, CEO of LinqThingz-Predictive Mobility, a company who would like to vie for the opportunity to bring the technology to Green Bay.
Brandt says LinqThingz’ technology includes sensors at rail crossings that detect when a train is coming through with its direction, speed and length. The info is sent to a cloud to calculate where other crossings will be open or closed.
If you don’t have the app, Brandt says his company would like to install variable message signing a mile away from each crossing, providing the same information so you can choose whether to reroute.
“I think if we found a funding source for the app, I would certainly be in favor of it,” said Chief David Litton of the Green Bay Metro Fire Department.
Litton says the city first looked at the technology in February, but the lack of a funding source kept it from going anywhere.
FOX 11 asked Litton how often emergency crews run into issues with trains or boats going through the downtown.
“I guess I would say the same as the general public. It does create problems for us and issues.”
If the city does pursue the technology, a request for proposals would be issued.
LinqThingz typically charges $6,500 per crossing per year. Brandt says municipalities would ideally find private partnerships to help cover the cost or even potentially eliminate the need for the municipality to pay anything.
Brandt says his company would likely install sensors at four crossings in Green Bay’s downtown area. Under the company’s proposal, residents would not have to pay a fee to use the technology.
