PUCO approves rail crossing upagrades in Richland, Huron, Summit counties
COLUMBUS – The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved safety upgrades at rail crossings in Richland, Huron and Summit counties.
Ashland Railway will install flashing lights and gates in addition to a new surface at the S.R. 99/Conwell Street grade crossing in Huron County and the C.R. 184/ Kuhn Road grade crossing in Richland County by March 6, 2025. Federal funds will pay $941,375 to complete the upgrades.
Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad (WLE) will install flashing lights, gates and cantilevers at the Gilchrist Road grade crossing in the village of Mogadore, Summit County, by March 6, 2025. Federal funds will pay $612,308 to complete the upgrades.
Details were announced in a news release March 6.
To increase public safety during the project’s construction, the local government may seek funding from the PUCO for the cost of safety improvements such as rumble strips, illumination, improved signage, or other enhancements at the project location.
Funding for such improvements comes from the State Grade Crossing Safety Fund and may not exceed $5,000 per project.
The PUCO is responsible for evaluating Ohio’s public grade crossings to determine the need for installing active warning devices. Since the PUCO began implementing these evaluations, the annual number of train-motor vehicle crashes in Ohio has decreased significantly, from 356 in 1990 to 61 in 2022.
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 website at gradecrossings.puco.ohio.gov.
A copy of the commission orders with a list of the crossings receiving upgrades is available on the PUCO’S website at www.puco.ohio.gov.