Light Rail safety in Norfolk

Transportation officials in Norfolk, Va., are working to make sure people are safe when the Light Rail starts running, local media report. Preventing a crash between a Light Rail train and a vehicle is what the city of Norfolk and HRT wants to work to prevent before the trains roll across the tracks.

Norfolk officials have
already started working with HRT to install more traffic signals where the
tracks intersect with the roadway.
 They have also installed new pedestrian
signals.

"One added feature in
this project is we have installed pedestrian countdown signals," said John
Stevenson, Norfolk senior transportation program manager.

Stevenson showed how the
countdown actually allows people to see how much time they have to cross the
street before the signal changes for either the trains or vehicle traffic. While
pedestrians can push a button to show they need to cross the street, the same
type of system will be used with vehicles and trains – except instead of
buttons there will be sensors.

Construction crews place
sensors underneath the tracks several yards back from where the tracks
intersect with the roadway. The sensors then activate the traffic signals
telling it a train is on its way. New signs are also popping up around the
tracks, which Stevenson believes will help drivers and pedestrians be more aware
of the Light Rail train.

Signs will say ‘Look’
with arrows pointing in both directions.

"It’s a fine balance to
finding the right number and the correct type of signs to use," Stevenson said.
And finding that balance is something Stevenson says his department is still
working on as the Light Rail project nears completion.