ICC Approves Ten Projects Across the State

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Commerce Commission approved ten projects across the state to help with safety upgrades, crossing improvements, and rail safety improvements.

The Illinois Commerce Commission has approved safety upgrades, highway-rail crossing improvements, supplemental funds for crossing improvements, and rail safety underpass improvement projects in counties across the state of Illinois.

Warren County

In Warren County, the ICC approved two projects that will “increase the vertical clearance of bridges” and  “Stipulated agreement 2273 requires the lowering of pavement under the BNSF Railway Company bridges at Coldbrook Street/County Highway 15 (AAR/DOT #004691Y, railroad milepost 186.15-LS7000), and Railroad Street/County Highway 5 (AAR/DOT #004692F, railroad milepost 186.48-LS7000) both located near Cameron Illinois.”

The costs for construction totals $717,533 with the ICC recommending that the Grade Crossing Protection Fund (GCPF) pay 90% of the costs with Warren County responsible for the remaining 10%. “BNSF paid the costs for the preliminary engineering for the two projects.”

Decatur

For the City of Decatur, the ICC has approved “$5 million in supplemental funds for the construction and modification of various rail safety upgrades.” These are “designed to remedy frequent and lengthy blockages that make it difficult for residents and first responders to pass through existing at-grade road crossings with Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NS) and Illinois Central Railroad Company (IC) tracks near the Archer Daniels Midland facility.”

In addition to constructing a highway overpass structure above Norfolk Southern track “above the current NS crossing 328516E on Brush College Road,” the approval allows the city of Decatur to “gate the IC crossing 291386B on Faries Parkway” and “relocate and gate the IC crossing 291384M on Harrison Avenue.”

The ICC authorized almost $15 million in December 2021 from the GCPF. The $5 million “will raise the ICC staff’s recommended GCPF assistance to an amount not to exceed $19.95 million. The city also recently obtained $16 million from the Federal Railroad Administration’s Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program. . . The total project funding will equal the $83,350,657 anticipated costs.”

Collinsville

The County of Madison filed a petition “giving them the authority to re-align Lebanon Road and construct a new bridge over the CSX tracks near Collinsville. The new bridge. . . will be constructed in conjunction with the closure and elimination of functionally obsolete underpasses on the current Lebanon Road.” The ICC approved the petition.

The cost is estimated to be $20,635,000, and the ICC staff recommends the GCPF be authorized to reimburse up to $15,605,000 with the remaining costs left to the County of Madison. After completion, future maintenance costs are left to the Collinsville Township Road District. The bridge is “expected to be done by November 30, 2025, at which time the former Lebanon and Lockmann Road underpasses are expected to close to public travel.”

Iroquois County

Iroquois County highway-rail crossing projects have been approved by the ICC. The “agreement requires CSX Transportation, Inc. to install new automatic warning devices and highway approach grade improvements at the 1170N and the 2200 E highway-rail grade crossings near Milford.”

Estimated design and installation costs for the warning devices are expected to be $872,019 with the GCPF to pay 95% of the expenses. “CSX will cover five percent of the cost to design and install the new crossing warning devices, and any future maintenance of the signals and circuitry.”

The cost for highway approach grade improvements is $222,900 and will be completely covered by the GCPF. Future maintenance costs are left to Milford Township. Work on these projects is expected to be completed within 18 months of the order date.

Marion County

An approved agreement in Marion County for a highway-rail crossing “requires Illinois Central Railroad Company to install new automatic warning devices and highway approach grade improvements at the County Road 1900 East highway-rail grade crossing near Farina.”

To install the new warning devices, the estimated cost is $387,651 with GCPF paying 95% of the costs. “The estimated costs of the highway approach grade at the crossings is 386,000,” and the GCPF will cover 100% of those costs.

Cumberland County

The ICC approved rail safety projects in Cumberland County and “requires CSX Transportation, Inc. to replace the existing warning devices with all new automatic warning devices and circuitry at the County Road 2350 East highway-rail grade crossing near Casey; County Roads 2200 East and 700 East near Jewett; and County Road 575 East near Montrose.”

To design and install warning devices, the estimated cost is$1,944,938 with the GCPF paying 95% of the costs. The cost of improving the highway approach grade is $191,280 and will be covered fully by the GCPF. CSX “will pay five percent of the cost to design and install the new warning devices at the crossings and all future maintenance costs for the signals and circuitry. The Union Township will pay all costs of future maintenance costs for the rehabilitated approaches in their respective jurisdictions.”

Albion

The ICC “approved a Stipulated Agreement requiring the installation of new automatic flashing light signals, gates, and approach grade improvements at the County Road, 3000 East grade crossing near Albion in Edwards County.”

Estimated costs for new warning devices are $384,749 with the GCPF paying for 95% of the costs. Norfolk Southern is to “pay all remaining signal design and installation costs, and all future operating and maintenance costs related to the new automatic warning devices.” For improvements to roadway approach grades, the cost is $200,000 is to be covered completely by GCPF funds.

Bluford

An agreement “requiring the installation of new automatic flashing light signals, gates, and approach grade improvements at the Falcon Lane/TR 476 grade crossing near Bluford” has been approved by the ICC. 

The costs for new warning devices to be installed is estimated to be $422,395 with the GCPF paying for 95% of the costs. “Norfolk Southern will pay all remaining signal design and installation costs, and all future operating and maintenance costs related to the new automatic warning devices.” The GCPF funds will pay for improvements to roadway approach grades up to the full costs of $200,188.

Ellery

The County Road 700 North/TR 495 grade crossing in Wayne County will see the “installation of new automatic flashing light signals, gates, and approach grade improvements” after the ICC approved an agreement.

GCPF will pay up to 95% of the total $407,232 costs for the new automatic warning devices. “Norfolk Southern will pay all remaining signal design and installation costs, and all future operating and maintenance costs related to the new automatic warning devices and temporary STOP signs.” GCPF funds will cover the improvements to roadway approach grades completely at a cost of $200,000.

Vermilion County

The ICC approved highway-rail crossing projects in Vermilion County, and the “agreement requires CSX Transportation, Inc. to install new automatic warning devices and highway approach grade improvements at the 2950 North highway-rail grade crossing of CSX Transportation’s track near Alvin and at the Jones Road crossing in Danville.”

To design and install new warning devices at crossings, the estimated cost is $1,010,024, and ICC recommends the GCPF pay for 95% of the costs. For improvements to highway approach grade at the crossings, the ICC recommends the GCPF “be used to pay 100% of the costs, not to exceed $62,984.” Future maintenance costs are left to the South Ross Township.