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The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) recently approved seven grade crossing upgrade projects scheduled to be completed by November 2009.

The commission also agreed to provide more than $1.1 million from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund (GCPF) to help finance the projects, which call for:
• installing new automatic flashing light signals and gates at an Illinois Central Railroad Co.(IC)/Canadian National Railway Co. crossing near Odin;
• installing automatic flashing light signals and gates, widening and reconstructing surfaces, and improving a highway approach at another IC/CN crossing near Kinmundy;
• installing automatic flashing light signals and gates controlled by constant warning time circuitry at another IC/CN crossing near Alma;
• installing automatic flashing light signals and gates, and improving highway approaches at an Evansville Western Railway crossing near Maunie;
• installing automatic flashing light signals and gates at a CSX Transportation crossing in Long Creek;
• installing automatic flashing light signals and gates controlled by constant warning time circuitry, improving approaches and installing warning signs at a Norfolk Southern Railway crossing near Litchfield; and
• Installing automatic flashing light signals and gates controlled by constant warning time circuitry at another NS crossing in Bluford.

The GCPF funds will cover about 95 percent of each project's C&S equipment installation costs. Funded by motor fuel taxes designated for rail safety improvements, the GCPF program provides $27 million annually for crossing upgrades and the construction or reconstruction of grade separations.