PUCO approves upgrade of warning devices for Tuscarawas County railroad crossings

COLUMBUS, OHIO (Oct. 7, 2009) – The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) today approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) directing R.J. Corman Railroad Company/Cleveland Line (RJCL) to install flashing lights and roadway gates at a new grade crossing at Guy Smith Way (929-488N) in Dover, Tuscarawas County.

RJCL will also install new active warning devices at the CR 80/Ohio Avenue (142-597N) grade crossing located near Dover, Tuscarawas County. The CR 80/Ohio Avenue crossing has been temporarily downgraded while the Ohio Department of Transportation widens and improves the interchange between 1-77 and CR 80/Ohio Avenue.

RJCL must submit site plans and cost estimates for the projects to the PUCO by Jan. 5, 2010. Funding for this upgrade will be provided through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding. RJCL will be responsible for completing construction of the upgrade by Oct. 7, 2010.

Separately, the Commission also approved construction authorization from ORDC directing Columbus & Ohio River Railroad (CUOH) to install flashing lights and roadway gates at the County Road 37/Pleasant Valley Road (510-745W) grade crossing in Union Township, Tuscarawas County.

CUOH must submit site plans and cost estimates for the project to the PUCO by Jan. 5, 2010. Funding for this upgrade will be provided through federal funding. CUOH will be responsible for completing construction of the upgrade by Oct. 7, 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 locations. Funding for these improvements will come from the State Grade Crossing Safety Fund, and will not exceed $5,000 for each crossing.

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 decreased significantly, from 412 in 1988 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-

09-488-RR-UNC

09-867-RR-FED