Pedestrian Rail Safety first for South Australia

The State’s first automated pedestrian gates will soon be installed at the Park Terrace level crossing in Salisbury.

Transport Minister, Patrick Conlon, yesterday revealed artists impressions of the gates and said the move is another step in the State Government’s action plan to improve safety and reduce fatalities on our road and rail network.

The $600,000 safety initiative is funded through the State Black Spot Program, and forms part of a $2.1m total commitment to improve safety at Park Terrace. Another $1.5m per year has been allocated for the Pedestrian Crossing Safety Program.

The Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure has developed the design of the gates in partnership with TransAdelaide, the Australian Rail Track Corporation, the City of Salisbury Council and disability and user groups.

“I’m pleased to be able to say the gates will be operating very soon into the new year,” Mr Conlon said.

“Our experts are extremely happy with the design and, from today, public displays have gone out into the community.

“This Government has already committed approximately $1.6 million per year since 2003 to level crossing upgrades, and it is planned this will increase over the next three years. We are doing all we can to make conditions more safe for both road users and pedestrians.”

The safety improvements follow a string of initiatives implemented by the Government, including the review of safety at pedestrian and level crossings, improving signage and road markings, and installing additional safety devices across the metropolitan rail/road network. Rail safety education with the hard-hitting Don’t Play with Trains advertisements, has also been stepped up.

Plans to install the automated pedestrian gates are the result of an extensive community engagement, monitoring of the site and long term planning work by the Government’s planners and rail safety experts to ensure the best possible solution to improve safety.

“Automated pedestrian gates are one of the options available to improve pedestrian safety at railway crossings, and the State Government will monitor the performance of the Park Terrace gates following their installation,” Mr Conlon said.

Features of the pedestrian gates will include:

• automated gates that close at the same time as the road boom gates close when a train approaches, preventing pedestrians entering the railway tracks
• a 2.4 metre wide path that features tactile surface indicators and line marking on each side to assist pedestrians with vision or mobility impairment
• an emergency exit which is designed to allow users to exit the railway tracks safely and without difficulty if they have already entered the crossing when the pedestrian gates start to close
• linkage to the Department’s Traffic Management Centre.

A public education program to demonstrate the safe use of the pedestrian crossing will start today, ensuring all users of the site are conversant with these innovative devices.

State Government representatives will be on site assisting people when the gates become operational in January 2006 and when children return to school in February 2006.

A short simulated video, to show all users how the automated gates operate and how to safely use the improved Park Terrace level crossing, has also been developed. This will be distributed to local schools and will be available on www.transport.sa.gov.au.

People can also visit the public displays at the Parabanks Shopping Centre, City of Salisbury Council office and Len Beadell Library, from tomorrow until Monday 19 September 2005.

Hon Patrick Conlon
Minister for Transport
Minister for Infrastructure
Minister for Energy