Rail safety program for regions extended

State Government response to Regional Roadworks Signage Review

Personnel Change in Executive Officer Role at TRANSAFE WA

The TRANSAFE WA Committee of Management has announced the appointment of Rob Sharpe as Executive Officer.

Effective 6th of September 2021, Rob stepped into the shoes of Ana Stachewicz who unfortunately has left the organsisation after a family road tragedy.

Rob has a business development background and has also been working in the road transport industry for the past nine years. Rob's family also has strong connections to the road transport industry dating back to the early 1970's.

As covered by Main Roads in this edition, the WA State Government has accepted 13 recommendations identified by the Regional Roadworks Signage Review to increase safety in roadworks sites.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti has asked Main Roads to implement a number of these recommendations to enhance safety for both construction workers and road users.

While several of the recommendations are complex and will take time to implement, a number can be actioned in the short term, including: • improving driver education and awareness; • improvements to signage design to ensure they remain upright and visible; and • reviewing tender documentation to ensure traffic management elements are afforded the priority and focus required to ensure safe practice.

Main Roads have appointed a senior project manager to oversee the process and also established an Implementation Committee, who will be meeting fortnightly in the first instance, with the inaugural meeting held earlier this month.

A formal implementation plan with delivery targets will be developed with key stakeholders by the end of the year.

The comprehensive review was undertaken by an industry-based stakeholder reference group, with extensive community consultation that looked at how temporary traffic signage at roadworks sites is installed, secured and managed in regional areas.

Main Roads has been working closely with the Traffic Management Association of Australia in recent months to help raise public awareness of incidents on roadworks sites with a new campaign to be launched soon to encourage drivers to 'Be Roadwork Aware, Slow Down and Take Care.'

Minister Saffioti said, "I would like to again thank the stakeholder reference group and Chair Dennis O'Reilly who undertook this review. "The work undertaken by the reference group has helped focus attention on this key area of safety, so it is important we build on that momentum and continue to engage with industry and stakeholders to ensure safety at road construction sites.

Rail safety program for regions extended

From late October, freight, transport and logistics workers must have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to enter Western Australia from 'high' or 'extreme' risk jurisdictions, based on the latest public health advice.

Regional rail safety improvements, including potential safe level crossings, are being targeted by the Public Transport Authority.

The program is identifying safety improvements on the Eastern Goldfields Railway between Perth and Kalgoorlie following a budget reallocation.

A 12 month program to improve safety at four level crossings on the South West Main Line between Perth and Bunbury was completed in June. A railway pedestrian crossing was also added at Lakes Road in North Dandalup.

The $2 million program in conjunction with Main Roads converted passive level crossings to active crossings at Coronation Road and Logue Street in Waroona, Murray Street in Coolup and Riverdale Road in Cookernup.

Passive level crossings are controlled only by signage, while active crossings feature warning bells, flashing lights and automatically operated boom gates. The measures significantly improve safety and help prevent accidental collisions and near misses where regional roads cross railway tracks.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti has approved surplus funding from the program for further safety works including a raised, safe access platform at Merredin Railway Station to help people with mobility difficulties, and an additional railway pedestrian crossing at Toodyay.

Further safe level crossings are also being evaluated by the PTA in conjunction with Main Roads.