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The Illinois Commerce Commission’s (ICC) Railroad Safety Section is seeking proposals from Illinois railroads and communities interested in obtaining a grant to implement local rail safety education and enforcement programs.

The ICC recently received a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) grant to work with local communities and railroads to implement such programs. Communities interested in partnering with the ICC on a rail safety education or enforcement program can submit a proposal describing the rail safety concerns in their area, proposed education and/or enforcement activities and the requested grant amount.

The ICC is accepting proposals until Oct. 31. Proposals selected for funding will be announced on or after Dec. 1, and grants will be awarded between Jan. 1, 2009, and Dec. 31, 2009.

In 2001, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) helped launch the Public Education and Enforcement Research Study (PEERS) program after meeting with state and local officials to discuss ways to improve grade crossing safety. Since then, the PEERS program has helped reduce crossing violations by 71 percent in northeastern Illinois.

“With this [FRA] funding, we will be able to continue to promote rail safety,” said Durbin in a prepared statement “I strongly encourage all communities affected by rail traffic to apply for these grants.”

To obtain more information and a grant proposal application, log onto www.icc.illinois.gov/railroad/PEERS.aspx or call Jeremy Kirk at 217-524-7726.