CHAMBER CALLS FOR RAWSON ROAD RAIL CROSSING UPGRADE
The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has once again called on the NSW State Government and Central Coast Council to collaborate on alternative solutions to the long running debate over the Rawson Road rail crossing at Woy Woy following the recent rail crossing incident on Friday night.
“Despite repeated requests from the Peninsula Chamber, neither Central Coast Council nor the NSW State Government have made any substantive attempt to resolve the rail crossing dilemma”, said Peninsula Chamber President Matthew Wales.
“On Friday night we had yet another serious incident at the rail crossing that caused major disruptions to commuters and the local community”.
“Fortunately, no one was injured as a result of the collision”, said Matthew Wales.
“However, so far, we have been fortunate that these repeated collisions haven’t caused a train derailment and all the awful consequences that that entails”
“Clearly both the NSW State Government and the local Council have put the project in the too hard basket and the community gets stuck with an ever-increasing safety problem that is only going to get worse”.
“The existing intersection at the Rawson Road rail crossing is becoming more congested and an increasing safety risk”, said Matthew Wales.
“This issue will now have an elevated importance following the NSW State Government’s decision to declare Woy Woy town centre a Transport Orientated Development (TOD) hub”.
“In line with that decision, the Chamber wants the NSW State Government and Central Coast Council to consider installing traffic lights on the Railway Street and Rawson Road legs of the intersection with traffic lights on the western side of the rail crossing to reduce the likelihood of further accidents”, said Matthew Wales.
“The existing rail crossing warning lights and boom gates should be retained as part of major synchronised upgrade of the intersection”.
“These improvements would improve traffic flow and safety both during normal traffic conditions and when the rail crossing is in operation”, said Matthew Wales.
“At the moment, navigating the intersection even when the rail crossing is not operating is becoming increasingly dangerous and is compounded during peak periods”.
“We have to start putting in place a more feasible financial solution to the rail crossing replacement and stop procrastinating as to who is responsible”, said Matthew Wales.
END
