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The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has approved a revised FY2010-2014 grade crossing safety improvement program.

The revision calls for providing $200 million in funding assistance from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund (GCPF) the next five fiscal years for safety improvement projects at more than 3,800 crossings in the state. Projects would range from installing automatic flashing lights and signals, which can cost about $200,000 at each crossing, to multi-million-dollar grade separations.

For fiscal-year 2010, the ICC has approved $39.8 million in assistance from the GCPF for six bridge projects and 125 new crossing projects. For the next four fiscal years combined, the commission approved nearly $158 million in GCPF assistance for 22 bridge projects and 203 new crossing projects.

The revised plan also would cover low-cost crossing improvements, such as the installation of new reflective crossbuck warning signs and yield signs, and modifications of existing remote monitoring devices.