MELBOURNE, Fla. — The city of Melbourne is trying to increase efforts to make its Brightline rails safer after recent fatal crashes killed three people over the span of two days.
On Monday, crews installed slim yellow poles along the center lane directly at the crossing where the crashes occurred.
The city's mayor, Paul Alfrey announced the installation of the slim barriers (which are also called delineators) on social media saying that their purpose is to make it harder for a car to change lanes near the crossing, discouraging drivers from trying to drive their way around the arm of a closed crossing gate.
Alfrey said Brightline is going to set up more safety measures at 328 crossings between West Palm Beach and Cocoa. The upgrades would be funded by a combination of a federal grant, state funds and Brightline's own money, totaling around $45M in funding altogether.
In addition to the safety poles, the new measures will include new safety signs, new striping and fencing, and raised markers on the pavement. All of these are improvements that Brightline officials expect to start working on this year.
Additionally, Alfrey said that Brightline and Melbourne's police department are coming together on a public safety campaign for railroad crossings.
"When the arm is down, don't go around," Alfey said.