The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission directing Norfolk Southern to install flashing lights and roadway gates at grade crossings in Montgomery, Summit and Warren counties. PUCO also approved an agreement authorizing CSX Transportation to install flashing lights and roadway gates at the Taylor Road (154-092R) and Ringwood Road (154-089H) grade crossings in Oxford Township, Butler County.

NS will install new lights and gates at the following highway-rail grade crossings:

• Sellar Road (524-638X), City of Moraine, Montgomery County;

• Alex Bell Road (524-641F) and Elm Street (524-645H), City of West Carrollton, Montgomery County; and

• Fairview Road (524-664M) and Lower Carlisle (524-667H), City of Carlisle, Warren County;

NS must submit site plans and cost estimates for the projects to the PUCO by June 1 2010. Funding for these upgrades will be provided through federal funds. The railroad will be responsible for completing construction of the upgrades by Sept. 3, 2011.

Separately, the Commission authorized NS to install new flashing lights, roadway gates and upgrade the existing circuitry at the Twinsburg Road (503-033D) grade crossing in the City of Macedonia, Summit County. NS must submit site plans and cost estimates for this project to the PUCO by June 1, 2010.  Funding for this project will be provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  The railroad will be responsible for completing construction of the upgrade by March 3, 2011.

CSXT must submit site plans and cost estimates for its projects to the PUCO by June 3, 2010. Funding for these upgrades will be shared by CSXT, the Ohio Rail Development Commission and the PUCO. CSXT will be responsible for completing construction of the upgrades by March 3, 2011.