PUCO Approves Grade Crossing Projects

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has approved grade crossing projects involving two regional railroads.

The Indiana & Ohio will install flashing lights and gates and reconstruct surfaces at the U.S. 68/Broadway Street crossing in Midland and the T.R. 1497/Wilson’s Lane crossing in Berne Township.

The Midland project is fully funded by federal grants totaling $497,009, while the Berne Township project is partly funded by a federal grant of $408,836.

I&O will pay the remaining $65,689 of the project. Both projects are to be completed by Oct. 11, 2023.

Ohio South Central Railroad will install flashing lights at two crossings on Ohio Route 93 in Jackson County by Jan. 11, 2024.

PUCO is providing a grant of $7,500 for the project from the state’s Grade Crossing Protection Fund. The railroad will pay any remaining costs.

PUCO OKs 4 Grade Crossing Projects

Four grade crossing projects received approval recently by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

CSX will install flashing lights and gates at the CR 48 crossing in Logan County by Dec. 14, 2023. Federal funds will provide $358,920 toward the project cost.

Norfolk Southern will install flashing lights and gates at the Oakwood Avenue crossing in Crawford County by Sept. 14, 2023. Federal funds will provide $403,179 for the project.

The Indiana & Ohio will install flashing lights and gates at Dayton Avenue in Fayette County. That project also involves rebuilding the crossing surface.

The work is to be completed by Dec. 14, 2023, and federal funding will pay for $371,120 of the project cost.

Michigan Southern and the Napolean, Defiance & Western will install flashing lights and gates at the West High Street crossing in Defiance County by Dec. 14, 2023.

PUCO will provide funding for 80 percent of the project cost with NDWR paying the other 20 percent.

PUCO Approves CSX Grade Crossing Upgrades

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has directed CSX to install new grade crossing equipment in Hardin County.

The Class 1 carrier will install flashing lights and gates at the crossing a Ohio Route 81 and Geneva Street in west central Ohio.

Federal funding of $472,955 will be used to pay for the project, which must be completed by Aug. 2, 2023.

PUCO Approves 2 Grade Crossing Projects

Grade crossing work was authorized this week by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio for projects in Licking and Columbiana counties.

The Columbus & Ohio River Railroad will install flashing lights and gates at the East Church Street and East Main Street grade crossings in Newark by July 5, 2023.

PUCO is providing $541,211 in federal funding for the project.

Norfolk Southern will upgrade existing lighting to LEDs at the Main Street and South Elm Street grade crossings in Columbiana by July 5, 2023.

The commission is providing $57,372 in federal funding for that work.

PUCO Approves Grade Crossing Projects

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has approved grade crossing projects in four counties.

Norfolk Southern will install gates and flashing lights at the Walter Street crossing in East Liverpool. The work is to be completed by April 27, 2023, and will receive funding of $402,613.

The Wheeling & Lake Erie will install gates and flashing lights at the Eberhart Road crossing in Lawrence Township in Tuscarawas County. The work is to be completed by April 27, 2023, and receive funding of $279,697.

CSX will improve the Ohio Route 57 crossing in Grafton and the Morse Road crossing in Liberty Township in Union County.

In Grafton, CSX will reconstruct the crossing surface and upgrade the warning devices to LED lights by Jan. 27, 2023. It will receive funding of $70,480.

The Liberty Township project involves the installation of gates and flashing lights by April 27, 2023, with funding of $284,207.

In a news release, PUCO said federal grants will provide the funding for the projects.

PUCO Orders LED Lights at NS Grade Crossings

Norfolk Southern has been directed by the Ohio Public Utilities Commission to install LED lights on signals at 100 grade crossings.

PUCO will pay $750,000 to install the lights with NS responsible for costs exceeding $7,500 per crossing.

The grade crossings are located in Cuyahoga, Erie, Fulton, Lorain, Lucas, Ottawa, Williams and Wood counties. The work is expected to be completed by June 2023.

Funding for PUCO’s share of the costs is coming from a state LED upgrade program established in 2012.

The existing 8-inch incandescent lights at the crossing signals will be replaced by 12-inch LED lights at crossings equipped with flashing light signal systems. 

Blocked Rail Crossing Bill Introduced in Ohio Legislature

Railroads that block grade crossings for more than five minutes would be subject to fines of $5,000 or more if the Ohio General Assembly approves legislation recently introduced by a Madison Township lawmaker.

The Butler County Journal-News said the bill introduced by Rep. Thomas Hall would impose fines in situations in which crossing are blocked “to the hindrance of traffic.”

Hall said he and fellow legislator Jessica Miranda of Forest Park sought to draft the bill in a manner that enable it to withstand a legal challenge.

Many state blocked railroad  crossing laws have been overturned by courts ruling that regulation of railroads is a federal responsibility.

The proposed legislation would require railroads to report blocked crossing incidents to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

The fines would be imposed for failing to report the incident.

PUCO Has Funds for Grade Crossing Projects

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has invited local governments in the state to apply for grants to improve railroad grade crossings.

In a news release, PUCO noted there are two state-funded programs that might be applicable for local communities: The state grade crossing upgrade program and the supplemental assistance program.

The state-funded crossing upgrade program enables local communities to share the cost of installing safety devices with the state and railroad or railroads.

Communities that seek grants from this program might be required to provide a small portion of the project costs.

PUCO officials said each case will be assessed on an individual basis.

PUCO Approves 2 NS Grade Crossing Projects

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has approved two grade crossing safety projects in Pike County.

Norfolk Southern will install flashing lights and gates at the Market Street and Mill Street crossings by Jan. 13, 2022. 

PUCO also directed NS to install a traffic preemption at the Market Street crossing.

Both projects will receive federal funding PUCO said in a news release.

 

PUCO Approves 2 Grade Crossing Projects

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has approved two grade crossing improvement projects involving a pair of short line railroads.

The Columbus & Ohio River Railroad will install flashing lights and gates at the Township Road 225 crossing in Coshocton County.

The Northern Ohio & Western Railway will install flashing lights and gates at the Sandusky County/Greensburg Pike crossing in Sandusky County.

Federal funding will be provided for both projects, which are to be completed by Sept. 2, 2021.