Crossing projects advance in Washington, North Carolina

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) last week approved the allocation of about $20,000 from the Grade Crossing Protective Fund to help pay for upgrades to a BNSF Railway Co. grade crossing in Yakima, Wash.

Yakima County plans to use the funds to install solar-powered advance warning signs with constant-flashing LED blinkers on both approaches to the crossing. The upgrades must be completed by June 1, 2014.

BNSF has reported several close calls between trains and vehicles at the crossing, UTC officials said in a press release, adding that the LED flashing lights will improve visibility for motorists.

Meanwhile, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) plans to hold a public meeting Dec. 5 in Durham to review the proposed closure of a private crossing at Byrdsville Road on a North Carolina Railroad Co./Norfolk Southern Railway corridor in Orange County.

NCDOT is considering whether to close the crossing to improve safety for local residents, rail passengers and railroad crews. The line is part of the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor, which will require increased train speeds and more freight and passenger trains in the future, NCDOT officials said in a press release.

The department tentatively plans to begin right-of-way acquisition for the closure next year. Construction would start in 2015.

In addition, NCDOT will hold a public hearing Dec. 2 in Charlotte to review plans to eliminate a crossing on Sugar Creek Road and replace it with a new bridge over a NS/North Carolina Railroad line.

The project, which also would include the closure of a Craighead Road crossing, is designed to address existing and future rail and vehicular traffic volumes in the area, NCDOT officials said.