ICC OKs Highway/Rail Grade Crossing Projects

Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor, Railway Age
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The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has signed off on stipulated agreements to improve safety at highway/rail grade crossings in Bond, Champaign, Henry and St. Clair counties. Total cost: $3.17 million.

The Illinois Grade Crossing Protection Fund (GDPF) will cover part of the projects’ expenses, ICC reported on May 18. The Illinois General Assembly appropriates $42 million annually for GCPF, which is administered by ICC.

The four newly approved projects are:

  1. $922,441 Project in Bond County: BNSF will install new automatic warning devices and temporary Stop signs at the Doe Run Road, Ayers Road and Ski Club Road crossings near Sorento. GCPF will cover 95% of the estimated cost to design and install the devices, and BNSF will pay all remaining design and installation costs, as well as all future operation and maintenance costs for the new devices and circuitry.
  2. $1.16 Million Project in Champaign County: Illinois Central Railroad (a CN subsidiary) will install new automatic warning devices and highway approach grade improvements at the County Road 500 North and County Road 100 North highway/rail grade crossings. The estimated cost for the automatic warning devices is $911,963; GCPF will cover 95%. The highway approach grade rehabilitations, which will cost approximately $251,475, will be fully funded by GCPF. Illinois Central Railroad will pay all remaining design and installation costs, and all future operation and maintenance costs for the new devices and circuitry.
  3. $416,715 Project in Henry County: BNSF will install new automatic warning devices at the Warners Castle Road crossing near Orion. GCPF will be used to pay 95% of the costs. BNSF will cover all remaining design and installation costs, and all future operation and maintenance costs for the new devices and circuitry.
  4. $662,779 Project in St. Clair County: CSX will install new automatic warning devices and a full-depth rubber crossing surface at the Exchange Avenue crossing near East St. Louis. GCPF will cover 95% of the estimated $527,509 price tag to design and install the new devices, and it will fully cover the approximately $135,270 price tag for the new surface. The Class I railroad will pay all remaining design and installation costs, plus all future operation and maintenance costs for the new devices and circuitry.

All project work is expected to be completed within 18 months, according to ICC.

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