PUCO approves rail crossing upgrades in Clinton County, other areas

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Wednesday approved $1.6 million from state and federal funding for safety upgrades at rail crossings in Clinton, Hamilton, Lucas and Stark counties.  

Indiana & Ohio Railway (IORY) will install flashing lights, gates and surface reconstruction at the Cuba Road grade crossing in the city of Wilmington, Clinton County, by Jan. 19, 2024.

IORY will also install flashing lights and gates at the Camargo Road grade crossing in the village of Indian Hill and the Roe Street grade crossing in the city of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, by Jan. 19, 2024. Federal funds will pay $815,698 to complete the upgrades.

RJ Corman Railroad (RJC) will install active warning devices at the C.R. 333/Carmont Road grade crossing in Stark County by Jan. 19, 2024. Federal funds will pay $168,229 to complete the upgrades.

Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad (WLE) will install flashing lights and gates at the T.R. 259/Mill Street grade crossing in Canton Township, Stark County, by April 19, 2024. Federal funds will pay $297,723 to complete the upgrades.

Norfolk Southern Railway (NSR) will install flashing lights and gates at the Monroe Street grade crossing in the city of Sylvania, Lucas County, by April 19, 2024. The estimated cost of the project is $642,423. The PUCO will provide $360,000 from the State Grade Crossing Safety Fund. NSR will pay for maintenance and the city of Sylvania will pay for any costs exceeding $360,000.

To increase public safety during the construction of the projects, local governments may seek funding from the PUCO for the cost of safety improvements such as rumble strips, illumination, improved signage or other enhancements at project locations. 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 orders with a list of the 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 23-208-RR-FED, 23-288-RR-FED, 23-242-RR-FED, 23-283-RR-STP, 23-215-RR-FED and 23-225-RR-FED.