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The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) Rail Division and North Carolina State Highway Patrol are jointly developing a video to help local law enforcement officials and emergency workers respond more efficiently and effectively to train/vehicle collisions.

This week, the two agencies staged a train/vehicle collision in Nash County near Rocky Mount and recorded the exercise for training and investigative purposes. The exercise also will help educate the public about rail safety, NCDOT and highway patrol officials said in a joint statement.
 
NCDOT also plans to hold a citizens’ informational workshop May 23 about the closure of two grade crossings near Walkertown and Winston-Salem. The meeting will provide the public an opportunity to provide feedback on the closure plans and review maps of the proposed projects. On average, about 300 vehicles per day use each of the crossings, according to NCDOT.
 
The proposed closures are a part of a statewide effort to reduce the number of redundant and/or high-accident-rate crossings.

Meanwhile, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) approved an agreement with the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC), Ohio Central Railroad and Tuscarawas County to install flashing lights and gates at one crossing.

The railroad must submit site plans and cost estimates for the project to PUCO by Aug. 17. Funding will be shared by PUCO, ORDC and the railroad, which will be responsible for completing construction by May 2012.

PUCO is responsible for evaluating Ohio’s public crossings to determine the need for active warning devices. In 2010, the commission played a part in the installation of lights and gates at 72 crossings statewide. The annual number of train-motor vehicle collisions in Ohio has decreased from 326 in 1990 to 64 in 2010.