Railroad improvement project escalated by five plus years in Medina, Ohio.

Medina officials are preparing a railroad improvement project that they hope will recruit more railway users and enhance the city’s economy, the Cleveland Sun News reports. Using almost $1 million in federal stimulus money, the city could complete rail upgrades this summer that, otherwise, would not have been complete for at least another half-decade. On January 10, city council discussed the approval of a contract with ms consultants, a Columbus-based engineering firm that would prepare construction plans and bid documents. Council still needs to approve the contract at its next scheduled meeting on January 24. The city owns 3.76 miles of railway within the municipal limits. Under the current plan, Medina will resurface railroad crossing intersections at Lafayette Road, N. Progress Drive, Ryan Road and W. Liberty Street and upgrade the rail and track surface at several areas by installing new ties, rail lines and a new stone base. The city will also rehabilitate or replace the rail signal equipment at the W. Liberty Street intersection and improve drainage along certain areas of the track. According to Patton, even prior to receiving stimulus funds, Medina had a railroad maintenance improvement plan in place – a strategy that would have taken six to eight years to complete because of funding concerns. Medina received $950,000 last year as part of the Federal Stimulus Program for rehabilitation, repair, and maintenance of the city’s railroads – capital that will allow the city to accelerate Medina’s railroad improvement plan. Stimulus funds will cover 90 percent of the project and the city will pay $93,617 for construction administration and engineering fees. City officials are hopeful that the improved track will attract more railway users through the city and encourage additional industrial business activity while decreasing rail maintenance costs. If council approves the engineering contract January 24, Patton said construction could begin in May and be completed within two to three months.