NJ TRANSIT RECEIVES FEDERAL GRANT TO DEVELOP ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM FOR GRADE CROSSING SAFETY
NJ TRANSIT to Work with Rutgers CAIT to Implement AI-Powered Safety Systems on Light Rail Vehicles and at Grade Crossings
April 1, 2024
NEWARK, NJ – NJ TRANSIT has been awarded a $1.6 million grant from the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) for the implementation of Artificial Intelligence-based systems designed to improve safety at light rail grade crossings. NJ TRANSIT will work with the Rutgers University Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) on the research and development of these systems. The data collected will provide critical information to help reduce pedestrian and vehicle strikes and serve as a foundation for community-driven safety improvement solutions.
“Alongside Rutgers CAIT, we are working to set a new standard in transportation safety aimed at preventing grade-crossing incidents leveraging the power of artificial intelligence,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett. “We thank the USDOT for this grant award, which allows NJ TRANSIT to continue to introduce innovative technologies that enhance safety in and around the communities we serve.”
"Equipping rail grade crossings and critical infrastructure with AI-powered technologies allows NJ TRANSIT to collect and analyze previously unattainable safety data," said CAIT Director Dr. Ali Maher. "This information will serve as the foundation for data-driven safety countermeasures that will be deployed to protect communities, reduce service delays, and enhance rail reliability throughout New Jersey. CAIT is proud to support NJ TRANSIT and the USDOT in this innovative grant."
The primary focus of this initiative is to significantly enhance safety, while reducing accidents at light rail grade crossings and on rights-of-way. This project strategically aligns with the goals of the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) grant program and aims to elevate the state of New Jersey's transportation system.
In Stage 1 of this project, NJ TRANSIT and Rutgers University will prototype a tailored artificial intelligence-powered technology solution consisting of stationary cameras at five light rail grade crossings, and forward-facing cameras in one Hudson-Bergen Light Rail vehicle. This technology will improve safety and detection, while offering valuable guidance for future infrastructure enhancements in other areas of mass transit. The Stage 1 study will culminate in a network-wide implementation plan geared towards enhancing pedestrian and vehicle safety.
The system will leverage cutting-edge AI algorithms, including deep learning, to analyze real-time camera video data from light rail grade crossings (captured by stationary cameras) and rights-of-way (captured by forward-facing cameras in light rail vehicles) using Edge Computing technologies. For grade crossing safety monitoring, the AI system will identify the activation of warning devices (e.g., signals and gates) and subsequently detect safety events, considering factors such as trespasser type (e.g., pedestrian or vehicle), time of occurrence, movement trajectory, weather conditions, proximity to the train's arrival, and other critical factors.
In Stage 2, NJ TRANSIT will proceed with the implementation of the AI-powered technology at 50 grade crossings and five light rail vehicles on its light rail systems. These systems will increase safety, reduce delays, and ensure a wide array of communities across the state will benefit from improved access to safe transportation options.
About NJ TRANSIT
NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 263 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 166 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.