PUCO Approves Upgrades in Warren, Fayette, and Butler Counties
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
Courtesy of PUCO
COLUMBUS, Ohio – PUCO, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, approved safety upgrades in Warren, Fayette, and Butler Counties.
PUCO, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, approved safety upgrades in Warren, Fayette, and Butler Counties. At the Augspurger Road grade crossing in Butler County, Norfolk Southern will install flashing lights and gates by November 16th of 2024. Federal funds totaling $415,904 will go toward the upgrades.
At the West Temple Street grade crossing in Fayette County, the Indiana & Ohio Railway (IORY) will install flashing lights and gates by November 16, 2024. $347,777 in federal funds will go toward the upgrades. IORY will also install “flashing lights, gates and surface reconstruction at the Gustin Rider Road/C.R. 187 grade crossing in Warren County by Nov. 16, 2024.” Federal funds will fully pay for the project’s total cost of $353,444. According to PUCO, surface reconstruction costs will be split between federal funding and IORY. The ORDC, Ohio Rail Development Commission, will pay $318,317, and IORY will pay $35,126.
“To increase public safety during the construction of the project, local government may seek funding from the PUCO for the cost of safety improvements such as rumble strips, illumination, improved signage or other enhancements at the project location. Funding for such improvements comes from the State Grade Crossing Safety Fund and may not exceed $5,000 per project.
“The PUCO is responsible for evaluating Ohio’s public grade crossings to determine the need for installing active warning devices. Since the PUCO began implementing these evaluations, the annual number of train-motor vehicle crashes in Ohio has decreased significantly, from 356 in 1990 to 61 in 2022.”
