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Yesterday, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) announced it approved an agreement that requires CN’s Chicago, Central and Pacific Railroad Co. to replace existing crossbuck warning signs and outdated automatic signals at 12 grade crossings in the greater Chicago area.

To be completed by June 2013, the $2.4 million project calls for installing new automatic flashing light signals and gates with constant warning circuitry. The ICC will provide $2.1 million from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund (GCPF) to cover 90 percent of project costs. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will fund the remainder and the railroad will cover all future maintenance costs associated with the automatic warning devices.

The ICC also authorized the construction of pedestrian overpasses on Union Pacific Railroad’s corridor in Lombard, Ill. The $3.3 million project involves three pedestrian bridges that would cross over three UP mainlines. The bridges will improve access to a regional trail system and Lombard Common Park, according to the ICC.

Contracts are expected to be awarded in August and the project is slated for completion by 2012’s end. The ICC will provide $1.9 million from the GCPF to cover 60 percent of project costs; the village of Lombard will cover the remainder and assume maintenance costs.

In addition, the ICC approved an agreement between BNSF Railway Co., the LaSalle County Highway Department, Allen Township Road District and IDOT regarding improvements to a grade crossing near Ransom, Ill.

To be completed by June 2012, the project calls for installing gates and flashing light signals, and improving highway approaches. The ICC will provide $507,000 from the GCPF to cover 95 percent of the cost to install automatic flashing lights and gates, and $92,815 from the GCPF to help fund the highway approach grades, which are estimated to cost more than $205,000.