Work will start immediately on installing new boom gates and other safety measures at 58 high risk level rail crossings around Victoria.

Funding for these safety projects will come from the Rudd Labor Government’s $150 million Boom Gates for Rail Crossings Program – a key element of our $42 billion Nation Building and Jobs Plan.

All up, we’ve allocated $30.3 million to Victoria’s 58 projects. Details of the approved projects are attached.

Tragically, about 100 accidents occur at rail crossings every year. Last year alone there were 28 collisions at level crossings in Victoria, nine resulting in fatalities and five involving serious injuries.

The investment we are making will not only improve road safety but also support local jobs and local businesses during the current global recession.

Never before has the Federal Government had a program dedicated to improving safety and preventing accidents at level crossings.

Nationally, the Boom Gates for Rail Crossings Program will provide $50 million in 2008/09 and a further $100 million in 2009/10 for the installation of boom gates and other safety measures at over 250 level crossings.

The projects announced today were identified by the Victorian Government using a model that takes into account factors such as road and rail traffic volumes; crash history; visibility for motorists and train drivers; the number of rail tracks at the crossing; and other public risk factors.

The new boom gates and other safety measures are part our $26.4 billion Nation Building Program which will deliver and maintain vital road and rail infrastructure in every region of Australia. Of this funding, $4.4 billion will be invested in Victoria – almost double what the previous government spent in the State.