Oculus Rail and WHRO Public Media Launch Real-Time Train Crossing Alerts for Hampton Roads Drivers
First-of-its-kind public media partnership brings live blocked crossing information to radio audiences
Norfolk, VA — May 7, 2026 — Oculus Rail has announced a groundbreaking partnership with WHRO Public Media and its radio stations, WHRO 90.3 FM and WHRV 89.5 FM, to deliver real-time information on blocked train crossings throughout the Hampton Roads region. As of April 27, WHRO and WHRV have integrated Oculus Rail’s live rail crossing data into their traffic and community programming. This helps listeners avoid delays caused by stopped or slow-moving trains at local crossings.
For decades, Hampton Roads drivers have relied on radio traffic reports for updates on bridge openings, tunnel backups, crashes, and congestion. By adding blocked rail crossings to these reports, the partnership offers motorists another critical tool to avoid delays and make informed travel decisions.
This is the first known instance in the United States of a public media organization broadcasting real-time blocked rail crossing information to the public.
Blocked rail crossings have long disrupted commutes, delayed emergency response vehicles, and impacted daily travel patterns. Leveraging Oculus Rail’s real-time sensor network and analytics platform, WHRO and WHRV can now alert listeners when crossings are blocked and offer additional context about traffic impacts.
“This partnership is about turning infrastructure data into a true public service,” said Andria McClellan, Founder and CEO of Oculus Rail. “People have dealt with blocked crossings for generations, often without reliable information about what’s ahead. Radio traffic reports have long helped Hampton Roads residents navigate bridge openings and traffic jams—now, blocked rail crossings are included in that conversation.”
“Our listeners count on us for timely information that affects their everyday lives,” said Bert Schmidt, President & CEO of WHRO Public Media. “Integrating Oculus Rail’s real-time data allows us to provide a new level of service to Hampton Roads commuters and residents navigating train-impacted areas.”
This initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize how transportation and infrastructure information is shared with the public, connecting smart-city technologies to trusted local media platforms. Oculus Rail is expanding partnerships with transportation, media, and government organizations to improve mobility, safety, and transparency in communities affected by rail traffic nationwide.
About Oculus Rail
Oculus Rail’s network of solar-powered, wireless sensors captures real-time data on blocked rail crossings, showing when and how long crossings are obstructed and how often trains impact traffic and emergency response times. The company’s analytics dashboard provides cities, regional planners, and public safety agencies with actionable insights to reduce congestion, improve emergency response, and guide infrastructure investments.
About WHRO Public Media
WHRO Public Media was built to serve Eastern Virginia. Founded in 1961 to bring learning into homes and classrooms, our name—Home Room One—reflects that mission. We are the only public media station in the nation owned by a collaboration of 21 local public school divisions, making us a vital part of the region’s educational and cultural fabric.
Today, WHRO is the largest nonprofit media organization in Eastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. We operate six public television and five public radio stations, reaching over 1.7 million people each month with trusted journalism, music, arts, and educational content. We also power eMediaVA, a digital learning platform used in classrooms across the Commonwealth. For more than 60 years, WHRO has helped our community feel smarter and happier through the power of nonprofit media. Learn more at whro.org.
