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Yesterday, Union Pacific Railroad announced it's closer to completing a $14 million grade-crossing safety program aimed at upgrading signs at more than 17,500 crossings that don't have active warning devices. By year end, the railroad expects to complete the program, which includes installing high-reflective crossbuck warning, emergency notification and private crossing signs.

UP officials also are working with local, state and federal representatives to install stop or yield signs at various crossings. In Wisconsin and Illinois, the Class I has installed the signs at more than 600 public crossings that don't have signals.

"We're [also] posting stop and yield signs in some areas of Arkansas, and are working to develop a broader program in that state," said Richard Reynolds, UP director of transportation and public safety, in a prepared statement.

In addition, UP is trying to close unnecessary crossings throughout its system — since 2001, the railroad has closed more than 1,400 — and install active signals at busy crossings to improve safety.