Pedestrian traffic light coordination

Response to the safety issue by: Wyndham City Council

The Council believes that the pedestrian crossing light is actually linked to the signal located on the eastern approach. Given the signal on the eastern approach is linked to the crossing signal, this means the pedestrian crossing is actually indirectly linked to the crossing signal.

However, council has identified that better light coordination can be achieved at this location by:

• Inhibiting the pedestrian crossing to turn green when the boom gate is about to come down.

• Giving lesser green time for traffic on the eastern approach.

As a result of meetings between VicRoads and Council officers, the following changes have already been made:

• The setting of the delay timer to 0 seconds for the pedestrian crossing. This means the pedestrian introduction will be inhibited (can’t turn green) from immediately the train call is received until the boom horizontal input is received. This is done to enhance the ability for traffic to clear from the roundabout.

• The setting of the pedestrian inhibition timer when boom horizontal input is removed to 60 seconds (previously set to 20 seconds). This means the signal on the north approach can stay green for traffic to clear through 40 seconds more than it used to be.

Council officers have contacted Metro Trains and VicRoads to attain relevant costing information to change the traffic light coordination (to give lesser green for traffic on the eastern approach). Once this information is attained, a business case will be put up by Council officers. Options that are currently being investigated are:

• Option 1 – Hold Railway Avenue traffic until the wig wag rail signals start. This will also give additional time for traffic on Cherry St to clear the roundabout.

• Option 2 – Hold Railway Avenue traffic until boom horizontal input is received.

The ATSB is satisfied that the actions taken and proposed by Wyndham City Council will adequately address this safety issue.