PUCO Approves Rail Crossing Upgrades
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved safety upgrades at a rail crossing in Auglaize County.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved safety upgrades at a rail crossing in Auglaize County. According to the press release, RJ Corman Railroad “will install flashing lights and gates, with surface extension, at the S.R. 364/Koenig Road grade crossing” by the 23rd of August next year. $310,804 in federal funds will go toward the upgrades.
Additional funding may come from the PUCO to pay for “rumble strips, illumination, improved signage or other enhancements.” If so, the funds (not exceeding $5,000 per project) would come from the State Grade Crossing Safety Fund. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio assesses public grade crossings to “determine the need for installing active warning devices,” and since it started, the number of train/vehicle collisions decreased from 356 over thirty years ago to 61 last year.
The PUCO encourages those with questions regarding public crossings in Ohio to call the Ohio Rail Hotline at (866) 814-7245 or to visit its website at gradecrossings.puco.ohio.gov.
