Kentucky awards grade-crossing improvement grants

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Greg Thomas has approved the issuance of $929,004 in grants to pay for grade-crossing improvement projects.

The grants were awarded to Paducah & Louisville Railroad, R. J. Corman Railroad Group and Port of Louisville Railroad to fund improvements for 16 projects affecting 14 crossings, according to a Kentucky Transportation Cabinet press release.

The awardees will be reimbursed half of the total project cost through the Kentucky Rail Crossing Improvement Program.

"Safety continues to be the first priority of the cabinet and this extends to all modes of transportation," Thomas said. "We are pleased to partner with our rail companies to improve safety for the public and to support the movement of freight across Kentucky."

In choosing the grant awardees, the cabinet considered factors such as crash history; vehicle, train and truck traffic; physical condition; project cost; and the federal railroad crossing score.