Caltrain leadership initiates new conversation to mitigate fatalities

“Computer vision is already being used in so many different areas from a security standpoint, but I think that it’s time that we look at using the application for a different purpose,” Mueller said. 

In a memo to Caltrain’s executive director, he proposed the agency conduct a request for information to solicit bids for technology that could identify people located “in dangerous proximity or on Caltrain tracks” and identify those “exhibiting behavior consistent with the intention to inflict self-harm,” among others.  

On Sunday, Aug. 11, a Menlo-Atherton High School student was struck and killed by the train in Menlo Park. Mueller said he has spoken with the family, who is supportive of the proposed discussion and request for information.

The number of Caltrain fatalities has seen slight increases over the last several years, and the majority of them are the result of suicide. There were 10 Caltrain-related deaths in 2020, increasing to 15 in 2023. This year has already seen about 13 fatalities.

Caltrain spokesperson Dan Lieberman said there are several initiatives the agency conducts to mitigate such collisions, such as implementing crisis hotline signs, or large-scale projects, such as grade separations, which limit access to the tracks. The latter is one of the most effective solutions, though expensive and time intensive, he said. 

Mueller said he knows preventing such death requires a multipronged approach, but the agency should be using all the resources at its disposal. 

“I can’t describe as a board member and for the Caltrain family, how impactful each one of these losses is. You feel for the family, and you want to help them, and you want to figure out a way to make it safer for them and for employees, including the trauma that they experience in this as well,” Mueller said. “I don’t think it’s a one-size-fits-all solution … but bringing the appropriate technology solution to the table to help aid that effort is something that I think we have to constantly be looking at given where we are.”

Mueller said he is not familiar with any rail agencies in the state using computer vision and AI technology for this type of use case but knows it has been piloted in countries such as Japan and Germany.

The issue will likely be discussed at the agency’s board meeting in early September.

Crisis hotlines are available 24/7. Contact 988 or (650) 579-0350 for help.