Streetcars running
at grade on-street have been identified
as the least desirable design for light
rail systems due to potential conflicts
with other modes of transit, which can
impede traffic, limit transit speed and
reliability, and pose safety risks to both
vehicles and pedestrians (Richmond et
al. 2014). Dedicated lanes prevent these
conflicts and can be ensured through
physical barriers such as guard rails
or fences that will prevent pedestrians
and vehicles from entering the track
area. Conflicts also can be found at
intersections, especially where turning
vehicles may be crossing the path of the
tram. This requires separate signals for
turning vehicles, though banning left
turns would go further in reducing the
chance of a tram hitting a turning vehicle
(Pecheux and Saporta 2009).