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PUCO approves upgrade of rail crossings in Hamilton and Wayne counties

COLUMBUS, OHIO (April 11, 2012) – The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) today approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) for Norfolk Southern Railway and Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway (W & LE) to install flashing lights and gates at grade crossings in Hamilton and Wayne counties, respectively.

Norfolk Southern will install flashing lights and roadway gates at the Station Avenue (524-727P) and Mill Street (524-725B) grade crossings in the village of Arlington Heights, Hamilton County. The railroad will be responsible for completing construction of the upgrades by Jan. 11, 2013.  Funding for these upgrades will be provided by federal funds.

Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway will install flashing lights and roadway gates at the Kohler Road (473-178E) grade crossing in Sugar Creek Township, Wayne County.  The railroad will be responsible for completing this project by April 11, 2013.  Funding for this upgrade will be shared among the PUCO, ORDC, and railroad.

To increase public safety during the construction of the project, 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 the 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. Over the past decade, the annual number of train-motor vehicle crashes in Ohio has decreased significantly, from 123 in 2001 to 64 in 2011.

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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12-1025-RR-STP
12-1034-RR-FED

 

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) is the sole agency charged with regulating public utility service. The role of the PUCO is to assure all residential, business, and industrial consumers have access to adequate, safe, and reliable utility services at fair prices while facilitating an environment that provides competitive choices. Consumers with utility-related questions or concerns can call the PUCO Call Center at (800) 686-PUCO (7826) and speak with a representative.

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