Keep on the Level

I fear the Victorian Government is about to bullied into doing something rash about level crossings. Grade separation for even a fraction of the state's road and train crossings would cost billions. In any analysis, this is primarily a problem for motorists, not public transport users. Cars and trucks that don't stop at crossings will slam into trains (or into the paths of trains) resulting in death and injury. Motorists who wilfully drive around boom gates and get stranded on tracks face a similar fate.

Taking money away from public transport projects to make it harder for motorists to do this is iniquitous and unfair. Claiming money spent on level crossings as public transport investments is misleading to say the least. Please, if level crossings are to be upgraded, ensure it comes from the roads budget. In light of the $1 billion myki fiasco, Victoria's public transport system simply can't afford any more unwanted projects.