Level Crossing Removal Authority

Last updated

Level Crossing Removal Authority
State Administrative Office overview
Formed2015
Jurisdiction Melbourne
HeadquartersMelbourne
Annual budget$6 billion
Minister responsible
State Administrative Office executive
  • Kevin Devlin, CEO
Parent department Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
Website www.levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

The Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA) is a Government of Victoria's administrative office overseeing the removal of 50 level crossings throughout Melbourne. Established in May 2015, [1] the Andrews Government committed $2.4 billion in the 2015-2016 budget to remove the first 20 crossings by 2018. The remaining 30 are expected to be completed by 2022 at an estimated cost of $6 billion [2] to be funded through the privatisation of the Port of Melbourne.

Government of Victoria state government of Victoria, Australia

The Government of Victoria is the executive administrative authority of the Australian state of Victoria.

Level crossing place where a road crosses a railway at the same level

A level crossing is an intersection where a railway line crosses a road or path, or in rare situations an airport runway, at the same level, as opposed to the railway line crossing over or under using an overpass or tunnel. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion. Other names include railway level crossing, grade crossing,road through railroad, railroad crossing, train crossing, and RXR (abbreviated).

Melbourne City in Victoria, Australia

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia and Oceania. Its name refers to an urban agglomeration of 9,992.5 km2 (3,858.1 sq mi), comprising a metropolitan area with 31 municipalities, and is also the common name for its city centre. The city occupies much of the coastline of Port Phillip bay and spreads into the hinterlands towards the Dandenong and Macedon ranges, Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley. It has a population of approximately 4.9 million, and its inhabitants are referred to as "Melburnians".

Contents

Background

When Melbourne's railway network was built, because of the city's flat topography and sparse population, many railway crossings were via level crossing rather than bridges or underpasses. As traffic levels increased, these began to become bottlenecks, both for road traffic as well as limiting the number of trains that can be run, especially at peak times. In 1954, the State Government established a committee to look at removing of level crossings at Clifton Hill, Elsternwick, Footscray, Moorabbin, Newport. [3] [4] These projects were all completed by 1960. [5]

Railways in Melbourne Railway network in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

The Melbourne rail network is a mixed-grade commuter and freight train system in the city of Melbourne, Victoria.

Clifton Hill railway station railway station in Clifton Hill, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Clifton Hill railway station is located on the Mernda and Hurstbridge lines in Victoria, Australia. It serves the north-eastern Melbourne suburb of Clifton Hill, and opened on 8 May 1888. The station serves as a junction, where the two lines separate immediately north of the station.

Elsternwick railway station railway station in Elsternwick, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Elsternwick railway station is located on the Sandringham line in Victoria, Australia. It opened on 19 December 1859, serving the south-eastern Melbourne suburb of Elsternwick.

In the early 2010s, level crossings were removed at Epping, Nunawading, Springvale, Sunshine and Mitcham. [6] [7] [8]

Epping railway station, Melbourne railway station in Epping, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Epping railway station is located on the Mernda line, in Victoria, Australia. It serves the north-eastern Melbourne suburb of Epping. It opened on 23 December 1889, as a station on the line to Whittlesea.

Nunawading railway station railway station in Nunawading, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Nunawading railway station is located on the Lilydale and Belgrave railway lines in Victoria, Australia, and serves the eastern Melbourne suburb of Nunawading. The station was called Tunstall when it opened on 4 June 1888, but was renamed Nunawading on 1 November 1945.

Springvale railway station railway station in Springvale, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Springvale railway station is located on the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines in Victoria, Australia. It serves the south-eastern Melbourne suburb of Springvale, opening on 1 September 1880 as Spring Vale, and was renamed Springvale in February 1972.

History

VicRoads compiled a report of the most dangerous level crossings in Victoria and handed it to the State Government in 2014, which in turn prioritised the top 50 for removal through grade separation projects, honouring a commitment made in its 2014 state election manifesto. [9] Many of the projects also involve the construction of new stations.

VicRoads or the Roads Corporation of Victoria is a statutory corporation which is the road and traffic authority in the state of Victoria, Australia. It is responsible for maintenance and construction of the arterial road network, as well as driver licensing and vehicle registration. VicRoads has broad responsibility for road safety policy and research. It is also responsible for regulating the accident towing industry in Victoria.

Grade separation type of road junction

Grade separation is a method of aligning a junction of two or more surface transport axes at different heights (grades) so that they will not disrupt the traffic flow on other transit routes when they cross each other. The composition of such transport axes does not have to be uniform; it can consist of a mixture of roads, footpaths, railways, canals, or airport runways. Bridges, tunnels, or a combination of both can be built at a junction to achieve the needed grade separation.

The LXRA was formed in 2015 to oversee and coordinate all planning, contracting and construction to the long term project. [10] [11]

In September 2016, the Port of Melbourne lease was concluded providing $9.7 billion into infrastructure and securing funding for the remaining 30 level crossing removals. [12]

Port of Melbourne one of the largest ports for containerised and general cargo in Australia

The Port of Melbourne is the largest port for containerised and general cargo in Australia. It is located in Melbourne, Victoria, and covers an area at the mouth of the Yarra River, downstream of Bolte Bridge, which is at the head of Port Phillip, as well as several piers on the bay itself. Since 1 July 2003, the Port of Melbourne has been managed by the Port of Melbourne Corporation, a statutory corporation created by the State of Victoria.

A report by the Victorian Auditor General, released in December 2017, found that the level crossing removal project was unlikely to represent value for money for the state. The report criticised the LXRA for its haste in delivering the program, and found that the rapid pace of the project had contributed to a failure to properly assess the merits of each grade separation. The Auditor General stated that the value of the project was compromised by the apparent political motivation for some crossing removals at the expense of more dangerous or congested intersections. [13]

In October 2018, LXRA surpassed the State Government's 2014 election commitment of removing 20 level crossings by 2018, having officially removed 29 crossings. [14] The Andrews Government also committed to removing a further 25 level crossings if it wins the 2018 state election, and has introduced a new prioritisation framework based on safety, congestion and proximity to emergency services to select the crossings. [15]

List of crossing removals

Level Crossing Removal Authority contractors working to remove the level crossing at Centre Road, Bentleigh in July 2016 LXRA Works Bentleigh.jpg
Level Crossing Removal Authority contractors working to remove the level crossing at Centre Road, Bentleigh in July 2016

Approved Removals

Below is the list of 50 level crossing removals being overseen by the LXRA: [16] Note that two additional crossings will be removed alongside the current 50.

RoadNearest stationLineStatus
Mountain Highway Bayswater Belgrave Completed December 2016 [17] [18]
Scoresby Road Bayswater Belgrave Completed December 2016 [17]
Blackburn Road Blackburn Belgrave Completed January 2017
Heatherdale Road Heatherdale Belgrave Completed January 2017
Buckley Street Essendon Craigieburn Completed September 2018
Glenroy Road Glenroy Craigieburn Contract awarded
Abbotts Road Dandenong Cranbourne Under construction
Thompsons Road Lyndhurst Cranbourne Completed June 2018 [19]
Centre Road Bentleigh Frankston Completed August 2016 [20]
Station Street Bonbeach Frankston Out to tender
Mascot Avenue* Bonbeach Frankston Out to tender
Station Street Carrum Frankston Out to tender
Charman Road Cheltenham Frankston Out to tender
Park Road* Cheltenham Frankston Out to tender
Edithvale Road Edithvale Frankston Out to tender
Skye/Overton Road Frankston Frankston Completed June 2018 [21]
McKinnon Road McKinnon Frankston Completed August 2016 [20]
Balcombe Road Mentone Frankston Out to tender
North Road Ormond Frankston Completed August 2016 [20]
Eel Race Road Seaford Frankston Out to tender
Seaford Road Seaford Frankston Completed September 2018 [22]
Burke Road Gardiner Glen Waverley Completed January 2016 [23]
Toorak Road Kooyong Glen Waverley Early planning
Grange Road Alphington Hurstbridge Completed May 2018 [24]
Lower Plenty Road Rosanna Hurstbridge Completed May 2018 [25]
Maroondah Highway Lilydale Lilydale Early planning
Manchester Road Mooroolbark Lilydale Early planning
Bell Street Preston Mernda Contract awarded
High Street Reservoir Mernda Contract awarded
Clyde Road Berwick Pakenham Early planning
Grange Road Carnegie Pakenham Completed June 2018 [26]
Koornang Road Carnegie Pakenham Completed June 2018 [26]
Centre Road Clayton Pakenham Completed April 2018 [27]
Clayton Road Clayton Pakenham Completed April 2018 [27]
South Gippsland Highway Dandenong Pakenham Early planning
Hallam Road Hallam Pakenham Early planning
Poath Road Hughesdale Pakenham Completed June 2018 [26]
Murrumbeena Road Murrumbeena Pakenham Completed June 2018 [26]
Chandler Road Noble Park Pakenham Completed February 2018 [28]
Corrigan Road Noble Park Pakenham Completed February 2018 [28]
Heatherton Road Noble Park Pakenham Completed February 2018 [28]
Furlong Road Ginifer Sunbury Completed November 2016 [29]
Main Road St Albans Sunbury Completed November 2016 [29]
Melton Highway Watergardens Sunbury Completed January 2018 [30]
Moreland Road Brunswick Upfield Contract awarded
Camp Road Campbellfield Upfield Completed December 2017
Bell Street Coburg Upfield Contract awarded
Aviation Road Laverton Werribee Contract awarded
Cherry Street Werribee Werribee Contract awarded
Werribee Street Werribee Werribee Contract awarded
Kororoit Creek Road Seaholme Werribee Completed July 2018 [31]
Ferguson Street Williamstown Williamstown Contract awarded

*Park Road, Cheltenham and Mascot Avenue, Bonbeach were added to the committed 50 level crossing removals after consultation along the Frankston corridor. This pushed the number of level crossing removals to 52.

Proposed Removals

The following 14 crossings were proposed for removal by the incumbent State Government that won the 2018 state election, in addition to a further 11 yet to be announced. [15]

RoadNearest stationLineStatus
Argyle Avenue Chelsea Frankston Unfunded
Chelsea Road Chelsea Frankston Unfunded
Swanpool Avenue Chelsea Frankston Unfunded
Munro Street Coburg Upfield Unfunded
Reynard Street Coburg Upfield Unfunded
Glen Huntly Road Glenhuntly Frankston Unfunded
Neerim Road Glenhuntly Frankston Unfunded
Old Geelong Road Hoppers Crossing Werribee Unfunded
Mont Albert Road Mont Albert Lilydale & Belgrave Unfunded
Cramer Street Preston Mernda Unfunded
Murray Road Preston Mernda Unfunded
Oakover Road Bell Mernda Unfunded
Gap Road Sunbury Sunbury Unfunded
Union Road Surrey Hills Lilydale & Belgrave Unfunded

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References

  1. ↑ "Victoria Government Gazette - No. G 18 Thursday 7 May 2015" (PDF). Victoria Government Gazette. 7 May 2015. p. 74. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  2. ↑ "About - Level Crossing Removal Project". Level Crossing Removal Authority. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  3. ↑ "Abolition of Busy Level Crossings" Railway Gazette 13 August 1954 page 176
  4. ↑ "Abolishing Level Crossings in Victoria" Railway Gazette 30 December 1955 pages 769-771
  5. ↑ "Abolition of Level Crossings in Victoria" Railway Gazette 4 November 1960 pages 539/540
  6. ↑ "Infrastructure" Railway Gazette International July 2009 page 14
  7. ↑ Rail line boost already on track Herald Sun 28 November 2011
  8. ↑ Springvale road and rail grade separation Arup
  9. ↑ Carey, Adam (26 October 2015). "Level crossings: VicRoads list of Melbourne's worst overlooked by Labor". The Age. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  10. ↑ "Melbourne level crossing removal plan to be fast-tracked, Government says". ABC News. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  11. ↑ "About the authority". Level Crossing Removal Authority. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  12. ↑ Promise Delivered: Port Of Melbourne Leased To Remove Level Crossings And Create Thousands Of Jobs Premier of Victoria 19 September 2016
  13. ↑ Carey, Adam (14 December 2017). "Level crossing removal program poor value for money: Auditor-General Andrew Greaves". The Age. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  14. ↑ Towell, Craig Butt, Noel (2018-10-21). "Another 25 rail level crossings to go under Labor pledge". The Age. Retrieved 2018-10-28.
  15. 1 2 "Andrews pledges 25 new level crossing removals in Melbourne". ABC News. 2018-10-21. Retrieved 2018-10-28.
  16. ↑ "Crossings - Level Crossing Removal Project". Level Crossing Removal Authority. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  17. 1 2 "Labor Government Removes Eighth Level Crossing In Two Years" (Press release). Melbourne: Premier of Victoria. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  18. ↑ "Mountain Highway level crossing gone". Level Crossing Removal Authority. 22 December 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  19. ↑ "Gone for good: Level Crossing Removal Project reaches half way | Level Crossing Removal Authority". levelcrossings.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
  20. 1 2 3 Carmody, Broede (1 August 2016). "Frankston line reopens as level crossing program rolls on". The Age. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  21. ↑ "Skye/Overton Road, Frankston | Level Crossing Removal Authority". levelcrossings.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
  22. ↑ "Seaford Road, Seaford". Your Level Crossing. Retrieved 2018-10-28.
  23. ↑ "Labor Government Delivers New Train Station In Glen Iris" (Press release). Melbourne: Premier of Victoria. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  24. ↑ "Grange Road, Alphington | Level Crossing Removal Authority". levelcrossings.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
  25. ↑ "Lower Plenty Road, Rosanna | Level Crossing Removal Authority". levelcrossings.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
  26. 1 2 3 4 "Every Caulfield to Dandenong level crossing gone | Level Crossing Removal Authority". levelcrossings.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
  27. 1 2 "Level Crossings on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  28. 1 2 3 White, Alex. "Commuters take first ride on Melbourne's skyrail trains". The Herald Sun. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  29. 1 2 Galloway, Anthony (2 November 2016). "Melbourne's worst level crossing in St Albans removed after month-long construction blitz" . Herald Sun. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  30. ↑ "Melton Highway, Sydenham | Level Crossing Removal Authority". levelcrossings.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
  31. ↑ "Early end to major works at Kororoit Creek Road | Level Crossing Removal Authority". levelcrossings.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2018-07-27.
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