Ohio panel calls for grade crossing improvements by NS, short lines

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) last week approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission directing Norfolk Southern Railway and two other railroads to make improvements at grade crossings in the state.

The projects call for NS to upgrade LED lights and curbing at the Silver Street grade crossing in Marion, Marion County; and for R. J. Corman Railroad Group to install lights and gates at the Mt. Pleasant Road/Township road 424 grade crossing in Dover Township, Tuscarawas County, according to a PUCO press release.

Additionally, PUCO approved construction of improvements to grade crossings along the Akron Barberton Cluster Railway (ABC). Those projects call for upgrading lights and gates at the Medina Line Road/County Road 2 grade crossing near Barberton, Medina County; upgrading to cantilever lights and gates at the Main Street grade crossing in Kent, Portage County; and upgrading lights, gates and locating warning devices closer to tracks at the Main Street/State Route 4 grade crossing in Wadsworth, Medina County.

The PUCO evaluates Ohio’s public grade crossings to determine the need for installing active warning devices. Since the commission began implementing the evaluations, the annual number of train-motor vehicle crashes in Ohio has decreased from 356 in 1990 to 68 in 2017.