Pedestrian safety improves at major CBD tram stop
Tuesday 29 October 2013
Public Transport Victoria, Yarra Trams, Victoria Police and
Melbourne City Council have acted to improve the safety of
passengers and road users at and around the accessible tram stop on
Flinders Street at Swanston Street.
The stop has been identified as a high risk area for pedestrian
accidents with 14 near misses in the last six months. Victoria
Police has previously issued penalty notices to pedestrians for
illegally crossing the tracks.
A trial earlier in 2013 with some fencing temporarily installed
saw 82 people unsafely cross the tram tracks, compared to 364 when
the fencing was not in place.
Hundreds of pedestrians leaving or entering the platform stop do
not use the designated crossing, which puts them at risk of being
hit by trams or cars.
Yarra Trams is extending the existing safety fencing on the south
side of the stop on behalf of PTV to prevent this dangerous
behaviour.
At the same time, Melbourne City Council is installing a safety
fence on the footpath on Flinders Street opposite the tram
stop.
The recent trial by PTV and Yarra Trams saw the installation of
temporary fencing to discourage pedestrians from illegally crossing
tram tracks.
The study showed an average 80 per cent reduction during peak
hours in the number of pedestrians crossing tram tracks.
The success of this trial prompted PTV and Yarra Trams to make
this fencing a permanent solution as part of its commitment to
passenger and community safety.
Existing safety fencing will remain in place and tram operation is
unaffected.