PUCO approves rail crossing upgrades in Scioto and Butler counties

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Wednesday approved over $1.7 million in safety upgrades at rail crossings in Scioto and Butler counties.

Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) will install flashing lights and gates at the Lincoln Street grade crossing in Scioto County by Sept. 6, 2024. Federal funds will pay $251,082 while NS will pay $44,308 to complete the upgrades.

CSX Transportation will install flashing lights and gates at three grade crossings in Butler County. The Hussey Road/T.R. 228, Decamp Road/T.R. 207 and Darrtown Road/T.R. 227 grade crossings will be upgraded by Sept. 6, 2024. Federal funds will pay $1,419,042 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 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 23-806-RR-FED, 23-809-RR-FED, 23-810-RR-FED and 23-811-RR-FED.