Motorists in Greater Brisbane are experiencing longer delays at level crossings, with the number of boomgates closed for over an hour during the morning peak doubling in the past three years. Recent data indicates that 26 level crossings were closed for between one hour and one hour and 50 minutes on average from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the last financial year, up from 13 in 2022.

The longest delay was recorded at South Pine Road in Strathpine, where boomgates were down for an average of one hour and 50 minutes, an increase of 21 minutes since 2022. Sherwood Road in Sherwood followed closely, with an average closure time of one hour and 44 minutes. Other crossings that experienced significant downtimes include Northgate Road in Northgate, Bilsen Road in Geebung, Nathan Road in Runcorn, Todds Road in Lawton, Beams Road in Carseldine, and Arbor Street in Ferny Grove.

Neil Backer, head of southeast Queensland for Queensland Rail, explained that level crossings are designed to allow enough time for pedestrians and vehicles to clear the area before trains pass. He noted that Queensland Rail has recently added 111 services per week, bringing the total to 8,503 services weekly, compared to 8,392 in 2023. Factors contributing to increased boomgate downtimes include longer dwell times at stations due to rising patronage, more freight rail traffic, and adjustments to timetabled services for essential track maintenance.

Matthew Burke, an adjunct professor of transport and urban planning at Griffith University, highlighted the significant impact of these downtimes on motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists. He stated, "Particularly for larger volume roads, having the boom gates down over 30 percent of the peak hour is really not great, so you've got significant delays."

Burke emphasized that removing level crossings could greatly alleviate congestion. He warned that as rail frequency increases, boomgate downtimes are likely to rise. He added, "Over the long-term, these projects pay themselves back, whether that's in lost travel time, improved urban amenity, and improved connectivity that encourages and potentially improves economic activity when the design is done well."

Public transport advocacy group Better Transport Queensland recently modeled the future impact of increased rail services on the southeast Queensland network. They estimated that boomgates could be down for up to 50 minutes between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. once the Cross River Rail project reaches full capacity.

Rowan Gray, president of Better Transport Queensland, expressed concern over the increased downtimes, citing safety risks and congestion issues. He urged the government to prioritize the removal of all level crossings with an average downtime exceeding one hour during the morning peak hours. Gray stated, "Level crossings require a significant amount of planning before shovels can hit the ground, so it is imperative that the government act now to ensure that the post-Cross River Rail timetable can be delivered without adverse impacts to the surrounding road, bus, and active transport network."

Currently, there are 60 public level crossings on the southeast Queensland suburban passenger rail network. The Queensland government and local authorities are focusing on upgrading or removing 13 of these crossings. Beams Road at Carseldine is set to be decommissioned this year and replaced with a four-lane overpass, marking the first removal of a crossing in Greater Brisbane since 2014. The project is backed by a combined funding of $235 million from federal, state, and local governments.

Additionally, five crossings at Kuraby, Woodridge, Bethania, Holmview, and Beenleigh will be removed as part of the $5.7 billion Logan Gold Coast Faster Rail project. The Beerburrum to Nambour Rail upgrade will also address three level crossings at Glass House Mountains and Beerburrum. The transport department has ceased investigations into upgrading the Banyo level crossing.

The RACQ, a peak motoring body, has welcomed the upgrade program but is advocating for more crossings to be removed. Greg Miszkowycz, RACQ's traffic and safety engineering manager, emphasized the need for grade-separated crossings to enhance road safety, reduce congestion, and ensure efficient transport network operations.

Plans for level crossing upgrades include addressing three crossings at Glass House Mountains and Beerburrum, upgrading the Kianawah Road crossing at Lindum, and conducting a planning study for two crossings at Coorparoo.

The following are some average downtimes for various crossings during the morning peak: - South Pine Road, Strathpine: 1:50:40 - Sherwood Road, Sherwood: 1:44:31 - Bilsen Road, Geebung: 1:39:51 - Northgate Road, Northgate: 1:40:02 - Beams Road, Carseldine: 1:29:09

These figures reflect the growing challenges faced by commuters in the region as rail services expand and level crossing downtimes increase.