September 14, 2024
From the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) on August 21 approved safety upgrades at 42 rail crossings in Athens, Fairfield, Franklin, Gallia, Meigs and Perry counties.

Kanawha River Railroad (KNWA) will install LED lights at the Georges Creek Road grade crossing in Gallia County, Dexter Road grade crossing in Meigs County and Refugee Road grade crossing in Franklin County by Aug. 21, 2025.

KNWA will also install LED lights at nine grade crossings in Athens County, 12 grade crossings in Perry County and 17 grade crossings in Fairfield County by Aug. 21, 2025.

The PUCO will provide a maximum total of $307,500 – $7,500 per crossing – from the State Grade Crossing Protection Fund to cover the Commission’s cost of the project. KNWA will pay for any costs exceeding $7,500 per crossing.

Camp Chase Railroad (CCR) will upgrade lights and gates at the Norton Road grade crossing in Franklin County, by Aug. 21, 2025.

The PUCO will provide 85 percent of the project costs – a maximum total of $251,000 – from the State Grade Crossing Protection Fund. CCR will provide 15 percent of project and maintenance costs and 100 percent of costs exceeding $251,000. The preliminary cost of this project is $295,253.

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 77 in 2023.

The Ohio Rail Hotline, at (866) 814-RAIL (7245), provides Ohioans with a toll-free resource for all railroad crossing questions. For more information regarding these crossings, access the Ohio railroad information system website at gradecrossings.puco.ohio.gov.

A copy of the Commission order with a list of crossings receiving upgrades is available on the PUCO’s website at www.PUCO.ohio.gov. Click on the link to Docketing Information System and enter the case numbers 24-765-RR-STP and 24-766-RR-STP.