The Camp Road level crossing will remain on the state government’s priority list for removal, despite a VicRoads report deeming it “not critical”.
The Campbellfield level crossing is on the state government’s top 50 list of crossings to be removed.
A VicRoads report on the timing of level crossing removals has prioritised the removals based on state planning strategies, congestion, cost and safety.
The June, 2014, report was released as part of an inquiry into the state government’s proposed long-term lease of the Port of Melbourne. The proceeds of the lease are expected to pay for the crossing removals.
Metropolitan Melbourne has 245 level crossings. The report details the road capacity, traffic volume, number of peak hour trains and boom-time closure of every level crossing and has identified 19 of the most congested.
Only nine of those 19 are on the state government’s list for removal.
Many of the crossings are given a priority ranking of high, medium or low but most are not given any priority. The Camp Road crossing falls within this category.
Based on train and traffic volumes in 2013, there were 10 two-way trains and boom gates were down for seven per cent of the time for week-day peak hour traffic at Camp Road.
The Madden Grove, Burnley level crossing – which is not part of the state government’s program – had 24 two-way trains and boom gates were down 29 per cent of the time during peak times.
The report stated: “level crossings on arterial roads with boom-gate closure times below 25 per cent during peak hours are not considered critical for removal”.
Crossing ‘needs to be justified’
Independent transport consultant Chris Hale said the state government had a responsibility to justify the inclusion of each and every level crossing on its program.
“They need to demonstrate on what basis they’ve prioritised expenditure,” he said.
“It could be something we don’t know about Camp Road. If it turns out that Camp Road should be prioritised then that’s OK, but it’s about transparency, openness and respect for taxpayers.”
A spokesman for Transport Minister Jacinta Allan, Kosta Pandos, said the Labor Party went to last year’s election with a clear list of 50 dangerous and congested level crossings it would remove..
