If you’ve driven in an urban area, you’re likely familiar with the dance of avoiding train tracks, especially when those tracks slice right through bustling streets. Now, throw in obscured traffic signals and poor road markings, and you’ve got a recipe for potential disaster. This scenario is not cured by just slapping on more caution signs or adding an extra stop light; it suggests a deeper look into how we integrate our transportation modalities in city spaces.

In Raleigh, North Carolina, residents near the train crossing at Beryl Road and Hillsborough Street raised safety concerns after a recent incident where a car was hit by an Amtrak train. Thankfully, there were no injuries, but the event has left many questioning the safety of this crossing. Lets think about this scenario: the road markings were unclear, the traffic light was not visible from certain positions, and there was no indication until it was just too late – essentially a smorgasbord of bad urban planning templates served right on your commute.

From what local driver Patrick Mauney describes, this intersection gets particularly tricky when traffic backs up. Drivers maneuvering to get a better spot in line only adds to the chaos—your classic case of too many cars, not enough space, and mixed signals. Literally. Now red lights are great (when you can see them), but when they play hide and seek with drivers? Not so much.

This misaligned orchestra at Beryl Road isn’t just a signal or a lane marking problem; it’s a symptom of a car-centric approach that many cities are still clinging to. We’re retroactively applying band-aids in spots that perhaps should have been considered for more pedantic design purposes from the very start. And while Raleigh city officials are considering additional stoplights, it brings up a larger question about our urban environments: are we designing them to cater to cars, to the detriment of overall safety and efficiency?

It’s like repeatedly trying to fit a square peg in a round hole while hoping it won’t get stuck this time. Meanwhile, cities that have taken the leap to more pedestrian-friendly, transit-oriented designs provide glaring examples of smoother urban experiences—both for drivers and those on foot or pedal.

Naturally, the planning and integration of any urban infrastructure need to accommodate the existing landscape, including historical Streets and legacy train tracks. However, reflecting on the Beryl Road scenario could set the stage for integrating more thoughtful and intelligent designs. Perhaps, adopting techniques that facilitate a smoother flow of different transport modalities, like advanced syncing of traffic signals tailored to actual traffic conditions, could prevent such problems. We could also look into smarter technological applications such as dynamic lane markings or even AI-based traffic management systems that aid in anticipation rather than reaction.

We might be a long way from seeing cities fully optimized for each mode of travel, but stories from intersections like that at Beryl Road offer valuable lessons in the urgent need for change. As a community, engaging in discussion about transport design safety could spark initiatives towards comprehensive strategies ensuring ease of movement without compromising on safety. The journey to smarter urban design continues, and each reported incident sheds light on both challenges and opportunities for safer, more efficient urban transport schemes.