Six projects will share in $2.8 million of funding under Round 1 of the Research and Innovation Grants component of the Regional Australia Level Crossing Safety Program (RALCSP).
Currently most level crossings in regional Australia are passively controlled with either Give Way or Stop signs, particularly where there is no reliable electricity source.
Infrastructure minister Catherine King said to address this, the successful projects will trial a range of technologies including rumble strips and flashing posts, solar-powered wireless technology and data monitoring.
“One of the projects will also deliver research into improving how reflective, bright and colourful signage is at level crossings as well as how to bolster the visibility of trains,” she said.
“The results of the trials will be shared with the National Level Crossing Safety Committee to inform ongoing activities under the National Level Crossing Safety Strategy.”
The Research and Innovation Grants will deliver a total of $4.7 m in funding over two rounds to support research and trials of low-cost, innovative level crossing safety technology and improvements.
It is a component of the $180.1m RALCSP, which aims to improve level crossing safety in regional areas. To do this, the RALCSP is also providing funding to deliver infrastructure upgrades such as rumble strips or boom gates, improve data, and promote safe behaviours around level crossings.
“I look forward to seeing these innovative grant projects get underway to deliver much-needed trials and research to advance level crossing safety in regional Australia,” King said.
