Crossing on track

By Melissa Grant
MOVES are afoot to fast-track the development of a pedestrian rail crossing in McGregor Road, Pakenham, as schoolchildren continue to risk their lives crossing the rail lines.
Cardinia Shire councillor Collin Ross and three members of the Heritage Springs’ Residents group met with State Government officials on Tuesday in a bid to have the multi-million dollar project brought forward.
Residents have been concerned about schoolchildren putting themselves at risk by ignoring the existing rail crossing. One resident said they saw a train almost hit a young boy.
Cr Ross said he was optimistic that Tuesday’s meeting would ensure the new rail crossing was developed as soon as possible.
“They seem positive they can talk to VicTrack to fast track the section of crossing,” he said.
“If we could get the crossing started in 12 months it would be a positive result,” he said.
“We (council) see it as critical for pedestrian and driver safety.”
Cr Ross and members of the residents group met with two ministerial officers and two people from the Department of Transport for 30 minutes.
Cr Ross said Spring Street would contact him within the coming weeks, hopefully with a resolution.
“We’ll wait a few weeks to see what they can come up with and I’ve already spoken to the VicTrack board,” he said.
The council has engaged VicTrack to act as project managers to upgrade the rail crossing as part of stage two of the McGregor Road duplication project.
At this stage, pedestrian crossings, with boomgates, are proposed for both sides of the road to ensure people can safely cross the railway line.
The council has set aside $400,000 in its 2009-10 capital works program to design stage two of the duplication. Construction is expected to begin in the next financial year.
Rail pedestrian crossings on both sides of McGregor Road would be welcomed by residents.
Pakenham mother Jennifer Phillips, who walks over the tracks each day, is one of them.
She said she took a risk every time she used the existing crossing on the eastern side. “It’s too dangerous – I only cross McGregor Road if I absolutely have to,” she said.
Cr Ross said it was imperative that a rail crossing was installed on the western side of McGregor Road to prevent people from having to cross the increasingly busy road.
Traffic counts in February showed 10,800 vehicles used McGregor Road each day and Cr Ross expected the figure to climb to 32,000 when housing estates in the area were completed.