LRT urban insertion and safety: European experiences

Abstract

[Abstract:] This paper provides a rough design toolkit for improving the safety of LRT (Light Rail Transit) urban insertion. This toolkit has been prepared after the analysis of more than 130 examples of good and bad practices related to LRT urban insertion in 13 European countries, which have taken place during the first working phase of the COST Action TU1103, “Operation and safety of tramways in interaction with public space”. The paper deals with the design of the following aspects: pedestrian pathways at stations/stops; platform design and station/stop location; pavement treatment on shared space; pavement treatment on segregated channels; LRT separators on segregated channels; intersections (left-turn intersections, roundabouts, pedestrian and cyclist crossings, innovative solutions at intersections); LRT channel differentiation and protection by means of pavement, marks, fences and barriers; and OCS (overhead contact system) poles location.