UP, Metra activate new pedestrian safety system
Written by jrood
A new pedestrian grade crossing system will be activated March 1, 2011 at eight stations along the Union Pacific West Line. The new system, called the Another Train Warning System, is part of a $132million dollar project designed to improve the flow of commuter and freight traffic on the heavily used line, as well as to allow trains to safely operate through a station when a commuter train is stopped there. The system is being activated at the Maywood, Melrose Park, Elmhurst, Villa Park, Glen Ellyn, College Avenue, Winfield and Geneva Illinois stations Metra and Union Pacific studied station improvement initiatives across the country and the West Line safety infrastructure is incorporating the best practices, creating the most comprehensive safety system of any commuter rail operation in the United States. The Another Train Warning System uses audible and visual alerts to warn pedestrians at crossings near the stations that another train-in addition to the one that is stopped at the station-is approaching or present. The system enhances other grade crossing protections, including new paths that safely guide pedestrians to a gated crossing, more pedestrian gates and more inter-track fencing to discourage pedestrians from crossing at unsafe and unauthorized locations. Work at the stations began in March 2009 and was completed in December 2010. Metra service was not disrupted while the project was under way.
