'Dangerous' tram routes

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Roderick Smith
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Joined: Mon May 28, 2012 8:44 pm

'Dangerous' tram routes

Post by Roderick Smith »

Route 58 highlighted as one of Melbourne’s most accident-prone tram routes.
Herald Sun July 26, 2017.
TRAM drivers fear it is only a matter of time before someone is killed along route 58, which runs from West Coburg to Toorak.
After a May 22 crash on Elliott Ave, near the zoo, 14 people were taken to hospital. And in January 2015, a beer truck hit a tram there.
Cars must also give way at Poplar Rd, near Royal Park station, and tram tracks in Peel St cross a busy roundabout at Dudley St.
Frequent route 58 passenger Matt Lisner said close calls were a daily occurrence.
“I’ve lost count of the times a car has gone around that roundabout (Peel St) into the path of an oncoming tram,” Mr Lisner said.
“It’s very badly designed. Going through Parkville is also a nightmare, and I wince every time I cross Elliott Ave,” he said.
video: TRUCK COLLIDES WITH 58 TRAM IN ROYAL PARK.
Tram truck crash Melbourne. Paramedics look over passengers injured when a tram and truck crashed on Elliott Avenue. Picture: Nicole Garmston.
Phil Altieri, assistant branch secretary of the Rail Tram and Bus Union, said route 58, along with routes 96, 86, and 75, was one of the riskiest for potential injury.
“There’re a few hotspots (on 58). It’s not uncommon for trams to hit cars. We have about three a day, so it’s fairly regular,” he said.
The network has 250km of double track (500km total); 75 per cent of it shared with other road users.
“Nowhere else in the world has that kind of set-up,” Mr Altieri said.
A route 58 tram — and a van — get a little close for comfort on Elliott Avenue in Parkville. Picture: Eugene Hyland.
A route 58 tram passes through the roundabout at Peel and Dudley streets near the Queen Victoria Market. Picture: Eugene Hyland.
He said many tram drivers considered Elliott Ave one of the worst black spots.
“That particular spot, in terms of safety, would be one of the worst, if not the worst. Just the way that whole intersection is configured, it’s a notorious spot, and when a problem occurs it’s pretty serious. Sooner or later someone’s going to die there.”
Route 58 is not among the worst five routes for vehicle collisions. Routes 86 and 75 have the most such crashes, but are the longest.
A Yarra Trams spokesman said almost all crashes were caused by cars turning in front of trams. Safety was being improved by increasing separation, giving trams more priority at traffic lights, and raising awareness.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victor ... cde244b2fd
* I'd reckon if they built a tunnel from Tulla freeey to the Eastern freeway that may reduce the traffic going through that area. Just a thought.
* Speed kills, slow the trams down, and get rid of gun ho drivers of the trams.
* This is not the tram route's fault! That crossing in Elliott Ave is clearly signposted, and has bells, lights and a very clear approach from either direction. Drivers just need to pay attention!
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Heihachi_73
Posts: 545
Joined: Fri Dec 07, 2012 7:48 pm
Location: Ringwood

Re: 'Dangerous' tram routes

Post by Heihachi_73 »

Simple. Install boom gates on the 58 through Royal Park and the other trouble spots, make the intersecting road(s) 40 km/h zones and ban all vehicles over 4 tonnes. Lastly, ban all non-rail vehicles from remaining stationary on tram tracks. Optionally, put up stop signs so every single vehicle has to come to a complete halt before crossing the tracks, even if a tram is not there.
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mrmoopt
Posts: 694
Joined: Sun Sep 26, 2004 12:35 pm

Re: 'Dangerous' tram routes

Post by mrmoopt »

That crossing needs to be grade separated and Elliot avenue duplicated for road traffic
Nuggets.
Roderick Smith
Posts: 1321
Joined: Mon May 28, 2012 8:44 pm

Haymarket roundabout

Post by Roderick Smith »

Here is my 2011 solution. Best with trams pedestrians and bikes at a lower level, but still works with only pedestrians and bikes low level, as part of the entry to the new tunnel station.
Roderick.

August 16 2017 'Roundabout of death' gets $100,000 to plan a safety upgrade.
More videos 5 cheap fixes to Melbourne's transport problems.
It's reviled as the 'roundabout of death' and loathed by Melbourne motorists, pedestrians and cyclists alike.
The sprawling Haymarket Roundabout at the northern end of Elizabeth Street, at the edge of the CBD, has four entry points, three tram stops, and carries 25,000 vehicles a day.
A think tank has put forward 22 cost-effective ideas to ease congestion in the city.
Belying the nickname, there have been no reported deaths at the junction between Elizabeth Street, Royal Parade and Flemington Road. But the roundabout has been the scene of 14 crashes since 2012, resulting in at least 23 injuries.
Motorcyclists have been hit the most (five crashes) followed by cyclists (four crashes), pedestrians (three crashes) and motor vehicles (two crashes).
Image of Haymarket roundabout from wikipedia Image of Haymarket roundabout from wikipedia Photo: wikipedia .
The government is now setting aside $100,000 to develop a business case to improve safety at the site, where trams in the afternoon peak are regularly blocked by gridlocked traffic.
Separated bike lanes, upgraded pedestrian crossings and giving public transport priority are all being considered as possible solutions.
"The Haymarket roundabout is one of the most congested and confusing intersections in Melbourne – that's why we're investing in a business case to find the right solution drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users," said Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Luke Donnellan.
In a 2016 TAC-funded online interactive survey, cyclists pinpointed the roundabout as one of Melbourne's worst spots for riding a bike.
The Bicycle Network's chief executive Craig Richards said almost 1000 cyclists head into the roundabout from Royal Parade between 7-9am on weekdays.
"With the development of the new underground station at Grattan Street, and the continuing expansion at the University and around the Parkville bio-medical research precinct, Haymarket needs a completely new, bike-friendly intersection," he said.
"There are some brilliant examples of roundabouts and intersections in Europe that give bikes a greater priority that we don't have in Australia. We have an opportunity here to build for the future."
Victoria Walks' executive officer Dr Ben Rossiter said the roundabout was "diabolical to walk around".
Over 1000 pedestrians cross in the morning peak.
"If you walk from Elizabeth Street down to Flemington Road, you have to cross four legs of traffic lights to get there. Intersections like this should not be in the inner city, they are anti-pedestrian.
Opposition public transport spokesman David Hodgett said $100,000 to develop a business case "sounds like a lot of money to spend on planning a roundabout".
The business case comes after a $2.4 million upgrade to the roundabout in 2011 to improve safety.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/round ... xxtbj.html
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