The Ohio Rail Development Commission approved two projects for grant funding at its Jan. 22 bi-monthly meeting, projects resulting in nearly $400,000 in rail infrastructure investment serving companies in the state.
The Rail Commission approved a $120,000 grant to Ann Arbor Railroad to rehabilitate a grade crossing at Chrysler Drive on the spur line serving the Jeep plant in Lucas County. The total project investment is estimated at $240,000.
This project will greatly improve safety for the traveling public, improve the safety and efficiency of railroad operations, and reduce delays caused by current track conditions.
Both the rail line and Chrysler Drive already see significant rail and vehicular traffic. With a recent announcement of a new mid-size truck assembly line, this line could generate substantially more rail traffic within the next few years.
AluChem of Jackson was awarded a $75,000 grant from the Rail Commission to help fund the reactivation of a second track at its Jackson County facility. The project repairs will bring an unusable spur at the company site back into service.
As a result of this project, officials said AluChem will gain additional storage capacity, improving on-time performance and reducing the need to ship product by truck. The total project investment is estimated at $150,000.
In addition to the rail rehabilitation projects, the Rail Commission approved funding for Ohio Operation Lifesaver’s 2026 Education Grant.
The funding will be used to conduct a safety campaign with WKYC, the local NBC affiliate in Cleveland, from July through September.
The campaign will air public service announcements during evening newscasts, show ads on WKYC.com, and air PSAs on the WKYC streaming app. In addition, the grant funding will assist with the purchase of educational materials for first responders and the general public, as well as for Operation Lifesaver’s booth at the 2026 Ohio State Fair.
Over the past five years, most crashes at crossings occurred at locations with lights and gates, which officials said underscores the need for safety education.
“The projects approved by the Rail Commission illustrate these companies’ commitment to safety and demonstrate the importance of rail service to Ohio companies,” Matthew Dietrich, executive director of the Ohio Rail Development Commission, said in a release. “Promoting safe and efficient rail operations is critical to our mission, so we are happy to partner with these companies who share that goal.”
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