Ohio panel OKs safety upgrades at R.J. Corman crossing

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) last week approved safety upgrades at the Columbia Street grade crossing in Saint Marys in Auglaize County.

R. J. Corman Railroad Co. will install flashing lights at the crossing by Oct. 2, 2025. Federal funding will provide $183,665 for the work. Local governments can seek additional funding of up to $5,000 from PUCO’s State Grade Crossing Safety Fund for extra safety improvements such as rumble strips, illumination and signage.

The PUCO is responsible for evaluating Ohio’s public crossings to determine the need for installing active warning devices. Since the commission began implementing these evaluations in 1990, the annual number of train-motor vehicle crashes in Ohio has decreased from 356 in 1990 to 77 in 2023, according to PUCO.