Ohio commission approves NS crossing upgrades

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has approved safety upgrades at a grade crossing in Columbiana County.

Norfolk Southern Railway will install flashing lights and gates at the Putnam Street crossing in East Liverpool. Federal funds totaling $442,641 will be applied to the project's cost. All work must be completed by March 20, 2025.

PUCO is responsible for evaluating Ohio’s crossings to determine the need for installing active warning devices. Since the commission began the evaluations, the number of train-motor vehicle crashes in Ohio each year have decreased significantly, from 356 in 1990 to 61 in 2022, PUCO officials said in a press release.