Here's a novel idea... people! Crossing flaggers, or guards. What is old can be new again.
I don't think our eyes were deceiving us when we were in Denver several months ago. On the light rail line we rode between Union Station and the hotel near the airport, every grade crossing had two attendants in safety vests, one on each side, who would step out into the street as the gates lowered, carrying a stop sign. Our room had a view of one of the crossings - as long as the trains were running, there were attendants on duty.
Being able to stare somebody down who may be considering doing something stupid goes a long way towards keeping them honest.
This is done for branch line operations where a crewman flags the crossing. But for the hundreds of grade crossings that exist, a little over done. In a city, especially on a line with traffic like Mike saw, not a unreasonable idea with auto traffic chafing at delays and this being somewhat of a new experience.
Being a transit authority operation, bringing on flaggers is a cost that can be absorbed in terms of employing people like school crossing guards....not a budget buster.
