PUCO approves over $1M for rail crossing upgrades in Clinton, other counties
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) recently approved over $1 million in safety upgrades at rail crossings in Clinton, Franklin, Summit and Wayne counties.
Indiana & Ohio Railway (IORY) will install flashing lights and gates with surface reconstruction at the Shawnee Trace Road/T.R. 263 grade crossing in Jefferson Township, Clinton County, by July 10, 2025. The total cost of the project is $470,479. The Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) will pay $392,991, while IORY will pay $77,488.
Norfolk Southern Railway (NSR) will install flashing lights and gates at the New World Drive grade crossing in the city of Columbus, Franklin County, by July 10, 2025. NSR will submit plans and estimates to the Commission and ORDC by Nov. 7, 2024.
CSX Transportation (CSX) will install flashing lights and gates with cantilevers at the Bailey Road grade crossing in the city of Cuyahoga Falls, Summit County, by July 10, 2025. Federal funds will pay $482,740 to complete the upgrades.
Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway (WLE) will install flashing lights and gates at the C.R. 188/Hackett Road grade crossing in Wayne County by July 10, 2025. Federal funds will pay $309,681 to complete the upgrades.
To increase public safety during the construction of the project, local government may seek funding from the PUCO for the cost of safety improvements such as rumble strips, illumination, improved signage or other enhancements at the project location. Funding for such improvements comes from the State Grade Crossing Safety Fund and may not exceed $5,000 per project.
The PUCO is responsible for evaluating Ohio’s public grade crossings to determine the need for installing active warning devices. Since the PUCO began implementing these evaluations, the annual number of train-motor vehicle crashes in Ohio has decreased significantly, from 356 in 1990 to 61 in 2022.
The Ohio Rail Hotline, at (866) 814-RAIL (7245), provides Ohioans with a toll-free resource for all railroad crossing questions. For more information regarding these crossings, access the Ohio railroad information system website at gradecrossings.puco.ohio.gov.
A copy of the Commission order with a list of crossings receiving upgrades is available on the PUCO’s website at www.PUCO.ohio.gov. Click on the link to Docketing Information System and enter the case numbers 24-593-RR-FED, 24-662-RR-FED, 24-663-RR-FED and 24-665-RR-FED.
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