PUCO approves upgrade of warning devices for seven railroad crossings in Ohio

COLUMBUS, OHIO (April 29, 2009) – The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) today approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) directing CSX Transportation and Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway (WL&E) to install flashing lights and roadway gates at seven grade crossings in Medina, Putnam, Summit and Wood counties.

WL&E will install flashing lights and roadway gates at the State Route 83/Avon Lake Road (473-553C) grade crossing in Medina County. WL&E will also install flashing lights and roadway gates at the North Street (002-132S) grade crossing and the Merriman Road (002-126N) grade crossing in Summit County.

CSX will install flashing lights and roadway gates at the East Liberty Street (155736U) grade crossing in Putnam County. CSX will also install flashing lights and roadway gates at the Locust Street (155831P) grade crossing, the Elm Street (155830H) grade crossing and the Walnut Street (155827A) grade crossing in the City of Perrysburg, Wood County.

Upon completion of the three projects in Wood County, three grade crossings will be closed. The crossings that will be closed are located at Cherry Street (155825L), Pine Street (155824E) and Hickory Street (155833D) in Wood County.

WL&E and CSX must submit site plans and cost estimates for the projects to the PUCO by July 28, 2009. Funding for these upgrades will be provided through federal funds. WL&E and CSX will be responsible for completing construction of the upgrades by April 29, 2010.

To increase public safety during the construction of these upgrades, the PUCO will assist the local governments with the cost of improvements such as rumble strips, illumination, improved signage, or other safety enhancements at the project location. Funding for these improvements will come from the State Grade Crossing Safety Fund, and will not exceed $5,000.

The PUCO is responsible for evaluating Ohio’s public grade crossings to determine the need for installing active warning devices. In 2008, the PUCO played a part in the installation of lights and gates at 38 grade crossings throughout the state. Over the past two decades, the annual number of train-motor vehicle crashes in Ohio has consistently decreased, from 395 in 1987 to 120 in 2007.

The Ohio Rail Hotline, at (866) 814-RAIL (7245), provides Ohioans with a toll-free resource for all railroad crossing questions. For more information regarding these crossings, access the Ohio railroad information system Web site at http://gradecrossings.puco.ohio.gov/.

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