A major safety review commissioned by the Department of Transport into the State’s public road, passively-controlled level crossings has been completed.
The review recommended safety improvements at 87 level crossings.
In a statement, the Department said it commissioned the safety review in mid-2021. It involved visiting all 491 passively-controlled level crossings and undertaking detailed site assessments at each location, in line with the Australian Level Crossing Assessment Model (ALCAM).
“The ALCAM process involves the collection of data through a combination of level crossing site surveys as well as train and vehicle volume information from respective rail and road authorities,” the Department said.
“Each level crossing is assessed uniformly using a standardised procedure to gather and interpret level-crossing data. The ALCAM identifies key safety risks, whilst also producing a unique risk score for each individual crossing.”
It said the recommended changes would significantly improve safety, and help prevent accidental collisions and near misses, particularly in the regions where roads crossed railway tracks.
“Following implementation of these changes there will no longer be any give way-controlled level crossings located on main-line railways within WA,” the Department said.
“Additionally, more than 50 per cent of all public road level crossings in WA will now be controlled by flashing lights or boom gates, which is above the national average.”
It expected the changes would result in a 33 per cent reduction in the cumulative ALCAM risk score across the 87 locations.
Minister for Transport, Rita Saffioti said the upgrades of13 level crossings to either flashing lights or boom gates meant that more than half of the level crossings on public roads in Western Australia would have active controls, one of the highest proportions of any State or Territory in the country.
