My guess? Calgary Transit and City Of Calgary Roads are both woefully underfunded, and both of these require a significant amount of maintenance.
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Originally Posted by SebC
They'd probably take some time to go up and down too, wouldn't they?
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Originally Posted by Acey
Snow/ice might also be an issue with something like that.
I am an ideas guy. But, I don't think they would take that long to activate.. But I agree, you wouldn't want a bit of either partially sticking out because of environmental issues preventing the from retracting fully.
Location: Wondering when # became hashtag and not a number sign.
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Just to clarify everything about yesterdays incident.
The scenario was this...
heading NB on 36st at 12 ave/marbank. There are 3 through lanes to stay goig N and 2 turn lanes to turn W from at this intersection. The guy who was hit was in front of me in the lane beside the turning lanes as we sat at the red light. When the C-Train was approaching from the S and heading N, the arm comes down to block only the turning lanes...and this arm comes down not blocking the tracks, but blocking the road/turn lanes. Once they came down the red light goes green and cars can then proceed NB. This guy went about 15 feet into the intersection and stopped before turning left and directly into the path of the train. Thank god he didnt go a half second earlier or that train would have drilled him right in the drivers side door and this is a conversation about something worse than someone getting just injured.
The funny thing as i replayed it in my head over and over again is that i understand how it happened...he was heading N, got a green light, and realized that he actually wanted to turn left. Looking that direction from where he was, there is no barrier down and nothing but a clear path to the other side of 36st.
I am not saying he was not at fault, as this was entirely his error. There was bells ringing and lights flashing that should have anyone there aware of what's going on, no question. However I do understand how the mistake was made.
Still one of the wildest things i have ever personally witnessed as when the collision occured he went airborn and landed about 8 feet from me as i had hit the binders when the sound of the whole thing. Like it was in slow motion. I am just thankful he wasnt killed...as i thought there was no way anyone would survive that when it initially happened.
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I drove along 36th St today, and was surprised that the barriers don't span across the entire length of the roadway that passes across the train tracks. Curious why gaps wide enough for vehicles to drive through are there when the barriers come down? Seems like making those longer is an easy improvement to make. Are the motors in those not powerful enough to raise larger arms?
The lights also seem a bit low. Trucks easily block them from view. Just my observations along that stretch. I don't think the bells where that loud either.
i understand how it happened...he was heading N, got a green light, and realized that he actually wanted to turn left. Looking that direction from where he was, there is no barrier down and nothing but a clear path to the other side of 36st.
So he wanted to do a obvious illegal left turn. Even if the train wasn't coming he was going to be the car in the third lane turning - probably would have hit the oncoming cars turning left going the other way or causing an accident when he'd have to somehow cram back into the 2 lanes.
I certainly agree with you in any case. Totally the fault of the driver.
Dont think so. Those arms you see in the second picture only lower to E/W traffic...we were heading N....at least thats how i remember it. I dont drive that stretch very often.
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So he wanted to do a obvious illegal left turn. Even if the train wasn't coming he was going to be the car in the third lane turning - probably would have hit the oncoming cars turning left going the other way or causing an accident when he'd have to somehow cram back into the 2 lanes.
I certainly agree with you in any case. Totally the fault of the driver.
Like i said, it was his fault but when he looked to the left and saw nothing but daylight, he decided to go without realization of why the lights and bells were going off. There were no other cas to cram into the other turn lanes as they were blocked by the arm on 36st.
It was a horrendous sequence for sure, but i really do see how it happened.
My suggestion would be to drop those arms that stop E/W traffic as well as the ones that block N/S every time a train goes by...that way this mistake could never be made without driving through the barrier.
Or...i could be misremebering some of it...like i said it was sudden, violent and rattled me for a while.
Like i said, it was his fault but when he looked to the left and saw nothing but daylight,he decided to go without realization of why the lights and bells were going off. There were no other cas to cram into the other turn lanes as they were blocked by the arm on 36st.
It was a horrendous sequence for sure, but i really do see how it happened.
My suggestion would be to drop those arms that stop E/W traffic as well as the ones that block N/S every time a train goes by...that way this mistake could never be made without driving through the barrier.
Sure he might have saw "daylight" for his blatant illegal left turn but you could say the same if he "saw daylight" to his right and suddenly decided to turn right across a full lane of traffic and turn illegally eastbound from his lane instead.
"Oh hey, look there is nothing in my way let me swing right across and get T-boned by the car driving beside me."
Some people complain about adding more and more signs, lights, and barriers. But at some point, I believe we simply have to blame and punish these people who are not paying attention or making reckless decisions while driving a motor vehicle.
Not trying to be a jerk about it but there has to be a point where we call out driver responsibility with these incidents.
Location: Wondering when # became hashtag and not a number sign.
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Who said he shouldnt be responsible?
And i believe he will be punished by police on top of....you know....the serious injuries he received getting smoked by an 800,000 lb train that hit him 4 feet from where he sat.
Again...his fault and i agree....but all im saying is that i understand how the mistake was made....its why they call them accidents and not on purposes.
Location: Close enough to make a beer run during a TV timeout
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Originally Posted by Wormius
Curious why gaps wide enough for vehicles to drive through are there when the barriers come down?
I know at 9th street and 5th ave, the barriers only prevent left hand turning traffic from 9th onto 5th. Part of that reason is the bells will be going off and the arm down, but 5th ave has a green light and is supposed to proceed.
To me, that is part of the problem. There is inconsistancy as to what crossings have arms, and which ones are you supposed to cross the tracks even though the bells and lights are going off.
Yes, there are arms that come down to block E/W traffic, as well as arms to block the turning lanes at that intersection; I go through there regularly.
I actually saw a truck towing a trailer with a skidsteer on it gun it to go from WB to NB break one of the arms there. I don't think he realized how heavy the trailer was because his acceleration wasn't great so the arm came down between the truck and the trailer and he actually snapped the arm off. He didn't even stop. I didn't get a license but I did report it to 311 so they could repair it.
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The best part of this tweet is the replies that start about half way down the page. These two people have a random conversation between themselves but it's still linked to this tweet.
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CALGARY- A major incident at a northwest LRT station shut down part of the train line on Friday afternoon.
Emergency crews were called to the Sunnyside station just before 3 p.m. after a man was struck by a northbound train, trapping him underneath. Firefighters and EMS were brought in to help extricate him, using saws to remove the aluminum wheel guards.
As a result, there was no service in either direction for a period of time. Shuttles were been brought in to help move commuters.
Police say the man was taken to hospital in stable condition.
A man has died after being struck Tuesday night by a CTrain at a level crossing in northeast Calgary.
Police said the victim was walking over the crossing at the intersection of 36th Street and 12th Avenue N.E. about 8:30 p.m. when he was hit by an oncoming train.
Det. Steve Adair said the man may have been distracted at the time.
“We have heard from witnesses that he may have been wearing headphones. It would appear he just didn’t hear the train coming and walked in front of it.”
