Yeah I can't imagine the cost today. The size of the crane they had to bring in to right the train was substantial.
They will declare bankruptcy
Well I have an interesting idea, Install two arms across both lanes protecting the tracks, light them up like a van halen concert (no pyro though), timed to the lrt/traffic lights. Arms start to rise at the orange light, up for green, BUT we also install rumble strips up the whitemud/75th off ramp, about 4 sets to wake up people
As far as I know TransEd isn't unionized. I believe ATU was able to get On Demand unionized however.
This set up is actually used at Southgate for the buses exiting from Southgate on the southside. Not exactly the same thing, but the gates are always down protecting the tracks, except when the buses have a green light. Granted, they aren't lit up at all in fact. No flashing red lights, just the traffic lights, crossing gate and a standard crossbuck.
That will be a very tough habit for drivers to break.
Unfortunately that's provincial level and there is no way the UCP is going to agree to it. However vastly increasing the number of NO-Right-on-Red lights across the city where there are no slip lanes present might help in the longer run. Not nearly as cost effective as a law change to No Right on Red due to the cost of all the signage and upgrades to lights but the city can only due so much.
From what I understand its actually the delay to drivers that they don't want. Avoiding the dead time at intersections that drivers have to wait for the arms to drop before the train comes and then waiting for them to raise after the train leaves was a big motivator for this style of intersection. Now, I think Edmonton drivers have proven they aren't smart enough to deserve that so arms must be considered.
The chair of ETR seems to have a plan under consideration for crossing arms.
