A western suburbs MP is backing community calls for a pedestrian overpass or underpass at Yarraville railway station in the wake of another boom gate bungle.
Cars and pedestrians queued at the Anderson Street crossing for about 90 minutes last Thursday when a signalling fault forced the boom gates to remain down.
A Metro spokeswoman said a signalling issue between Seddon and Yarraville stations just after 8am caused the gates to remain down for extended periods until 9.31am.
The incident came just a day before the state government revealed fines had more than doubled for drivers and pedestrians crossing while boom gates were down.
Greens MP Colleen Hartland said the latest failure emphasised the need for a pedestrian overpass or underpass.
“Yarraville residents have missed out on the government’s level-crossing blitz so this problem could go on into the never-never,” she said. “A pedestrian overpass or underpass at least would improve access and safety for those on foot.”
The former Anderson Street pedestrian underpass was filled in at Maribyrnong council’s request in 1997 by the former Public Transport Corporation due to problems with flooding, rubbish, graffiti, drugs and assaults.
Ms Hartland recently raised the issue in Parliament with Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan.
Ms Allan told Star Weekly the former underpass was dangerous, dirty and too steep for wheelchairs to use.
To comply with disability standards, a new overpass or underpass would need gradients that are no more than 1 in 14.
“Any future improvement to pedestrian access would need to solve these challenges and overcome significant space constraints at either side of the tracks,” she said.
Under the new penalties announced on Friday, fines for drivers and cyclists crossing while boom gates are down have more than doubled from $295 to $607, with the
maximum court penalty rocketing from $1467 to $3033.
Pedestrian fines have also more than doubled from $148 to $379, while court penalties jumped from $738 to $1517.
Ms Allan said doubling the fines would make people think twice about dangerously sneaking across the tracks.
“People just need to stop taking chances so they don’t hurt or kill themselves – and potentially traumatise train drivers – just to save a few minutes,” she said.
