Ohio panel OKs crossing projects for two Class Is, R. J. Corman

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) this week approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission directing Norfolk Southern Railway, R. J. Corman Railroad Co. and CSX to make grade crossing improvements in three counties.

PUCO is responsible for evaluating Ohio's public crossings to determine the need for installing active warning devices.

NS will upgrade active warning devices and LED lights at the Wentz Road crossing in Toledo. The Class I must complete the work by Feb. 20, 2020.

R.J. Corman's project entails the installation of active warning devices at the Horatio Harris Creek Road/Township Road 9 crossing in Greenville Township. That project's deadline is Nov. 20.

And the CSX project calls for installing active warning devices at the Township Road 247 crossing in Dudley Township. Work must be completed by Feb. 20, 2020.

Since PUCO began evaluating crossings, the annual number of train-motor vehicle collisions in Ohio as fallen from 356 in 1990 to 68 in 2017, commission officials said in a press release.