Article: They're driving us mad

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From the Herald Sun click here!

They're driving us mad

They're driving us mad
Article from: Herald Sun

Ashley Gardiner

September 03, 2009 12:00am

THE State Government has been urged to upgrade 10 level crossings across Melbourne to improve public transport.

Removal of the crossings would improve safety as well as traffic congestion, the Public Transport Users Association said.

The 10 crossings are on roads used by major tram or bus routes, which are slowed down by trains.

PTUA president Daniel Bowen said Melbourne had fallen behind other cities in removing crossings.

"Sydney removed its level crossings over the years to the point they have only a handful left," Mr Bowen said.

"But we stopped our plans here in Melbourne in the late 1960s and diverted much of the funding instead into freeway construction.

"The result is we still have 170-odd level crossings across metropolitan Melbourne that cause delays to the community, commuters and freight every day."

Mr Bowen said recent level-crossing removals at Dorset Rd, Boronia, Middleborough Rd, Box Hill, and Taylors Rd, St Albans, had highlighted the safety benefits.

"We know that every time a level crossing is removed, there is significant economic and safety benefit to the community," Mr Bowen said.

"If only one removal project was completed each year over the next 10 years, many of Melbourne's worst traffic snarls . . . would disappear."

A spokesman for Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said level crossing removals were very expensive.

Middleborough Rd cost $57 million and the budget for Springvale Rd is $140 million.

"The Government has allocated $440 million for a program of level crossing elimination starting with Springvale Rd, Nunawading," spokesman Stephen Moynihan said.