PUCO approves upgrade of warning devices for railroad crossing in Butler County

COLUMBUS, OHIO (June 3, 2009) – The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) today approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) directing Norfolk Southern to install flashing lights and roadway gates at the Township Road 28/Oxford-Middletown Road (525-187A) grade crossing in Milford Township, Butler County.

Norfolk Southern must submit site plans and cost estimates for the project to the PUCO by Sept. 1, 2009. Funding for this upgrade will be provided through federal funds. Norfolk Southern will be responsible for completing construction of the upgrades by June 3, 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 82 in 2008.

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/.

-30-

09-424-RR-FED