CRISI grants to boost five new freight-rail projects in Ohio

Five rail projects designed to upgrade infrastructure, improve grade crossings and expand capacity will move forward due to a mix of federal, state, local and private funding, the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) announced yesterday.

The projects will help railroads in Ohio move freight faster, safer and more efficiently, said ORDC Executive Director Matthew Dietrich in a press release.

The projects are funded with $36.2 million in Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grants from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), $10.9 million in railroad and port authority funds, and $3.7 million in state matching funds.

The five projects are:

 • Rural Freight Railroad Improvements NOW, $8 million to upgrade track infrastructure across the 24-mile rail line owned by the Sandusky County-Seneca County-City of Tiffin Port Authority and operated by the Northern Ohio & Western Railway. The FRA awarded $6.4 million. ORDC and the port authority will contribute the 20% nonfederal match;

 • Rural Ohio-Appalachian Rail Rehabilitation, a project that includes rehabilitation and crossing improvements at two locations on the R. J. Corman Railroad Group’s Cleveland Line in Summit, Stark, and Tuscarawas counties. The total project cost is $4.9 million. The FRA award is $3.2 million. ORDC and R. J. Corman will contribute the 35% nonfederal match;

 • Cincinnati Rail Congestion Mitigation Plan. The plan will be undertaken by the ORDC in partnership with Norfolk Southern Railway, CSX, Indiana & Ohio Railway Co. and the Central Railroad of Indiana. The FRA awarded $1.6 million. The project will develop a regional rail plan aimed at improving railroad fluidity and addressing blocked crossing concerns in and around Queensgate Yard in Cincinnati. ORDC, NS and CSX will contribute the 20% nonfederal match;

 • Panhandle Upgrade and Capacity Project in Central Ohio, a $19.8 million project to upgrade the track infrastructure, expand capacity of Newark Yard and install trespass prevention measures on the Columbus & Ohio River Rail Road (CUOH) line. The FRA awarded $12.9 million. ORDC and CUOH will contribute the 35% nonfederal match; and

• Napoleon, Defiance & Western Railway (NDW) — Critical Safety Upgrade, Phase 3. This $16.2 million project will replace deteriorating and broken rail and ties and expand capacity along the eastern half of the NDW. The FRA award is $12.2 million. ORDC and NDW will contribute the 25% nonfederal match.