(Image: Sound Transit)
Sound Transit is collecting public feedback on improving safety along its at-grade crossings including areas along its light rail route in South Seattle that have killed and injured multiple people while also leaving the system vulnerable to delays and disruptions.
The effort comes as the agency is shaping a new At-grade Crossing Program with new rules and enhancements hoped to be approved by May.
On Capitol Hill, the light rail trains rumble far underground but elsewhere along Sound Transit’s systems, the line is vulnerable to dangerous collisions with vehicles at intersections crossing the tracks. The crashes are sometimes a nuisance — frequently tragic.
It is taking years for Sound Transit to fully act on the at-grade problem.
“The At-Grade Crossing Program is a comprehensive safety initiative launched in 2021 to enhance safety at designated at-grade crossing locations where tracks and trains intersect on the same level with vehicles and people walking, rolling, and biking,” Sound Transit says. “The program includes safety enhancements and increased safety awareness and education efforts.”
As of summer, Sound Transit along with the Seattle Department of Transportation completed “nine at-grade safety enhancement projects in the Rainier Valley segment.”
“Early data indicate positive findings in incident reduction are occurring as the agency targets zero fatalities,” Sound Transit says.
Enhancements include dynamic message signs, railroad pavement markings, and LED signage. Pedestrian gate enhancements at stations are also being considered.
Sound Transit is inviting riders and residents to “share your crossing experience” through February 16th to help shape the final plan.
Learn more at crossingsafetyst.org.
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I imagine much of this is badly calculated risk-taking which no amount of signage will address. Any real solution will involve elements no one will be happy with and significantly affect flow.
lipstick on a pig
Ban cars from these crossings. Simple.
The issue at hand is trains hitting people, so we can assume you mean trains?
Canceling any expansion and shutting down this section would work out the best for everyone, but that is unlikely to happen.
One werd…Tunnel.
Maybe in the future we could stop building the cheapest easiest alignment.
Back when they were building the first segment in the early 00s, they had to go with the cheapest, easiest alignment to show proof of concept to riders/voters. So, neither a tunnel nor above grade construction was possible through the Rainier Valley. Not the best decision in the end, obviously, but I think political (and budget) realities at the time didn’t give them much of a choice.