I’ve just spent two days undertaking KiwiRail certification training for undertaking Level Crossing Safety Impact Assessments (a certain irony then that my current featured post is about safety around tram tracks…). While I have undertaken various LCSIAs in the past (incl. cycle-related ones), it was time to get recertified again.
The course involved a mix of in-house presentations and also some site visits to three nearby crossing locations – this included the pedestrian/cycle rail crossing at Matai St on the Uni-Cycle Major Cycle Route. And not surprisingly, there were plenty of people biking through…
My company has previously been involved in helping to produce the original Level Crossing Risk Assessment Guides for KiwiRail/NZTA and also developing a similar design guide for Pedestrian & Cycle Rail Crossings. Certainly these guides have helped to improve the relative safety for all road users getting across railway lines. We’re definitely seeing more automatic gates being rolled out at busy crossing locations, which helps to avoid the inconvenience and distraction of having tight maze approaches still present at some other locations. Clearer signs/markings, multiple flashing lights, directed fencing, smooth rail surfaces, and tactile indicator pavers are all useful supporting tools as well.
It can still be a complex process sometimes getting KiwiRail and local Councils to agree to a final design plan for safely getting pedestrians and cyclists across railway lines (just look at the work involved to finally develop an acceptable option at Scruttons Rd in Heathcote Valley…). But in the long run, the aim is to ensure that all people (walking or cycling) get across railway tracks safely.
How have you found crossing railway tracks around Christchurch?