The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio this week approved $1.9 million in safety upgrades at rail crossings in four Ohio counties.
Napoleon, Defiance & Western Railway will install lights and gates at the Cleveland Street grade crossing in the village of Antwerp, Paulding County, by Oct. 7, 2026. Federal funds will pay $466,880 to complete the project.
Kanawha River Railroad will install lights and gates at the S.R. 256/Main Street grade crossing in Fairfield County by Oct. 7. Federal funds will pay $399,761 to complete the project.
The Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad will install flashing lights and gates at the S.R. 3/Main Street grade crossing in Wayne County by Oct. 7. The total cost of the project is $374,310. Federal funds will pay $299,448, while WLE will pay $74,862 to complete the project.
Ann Arbor Railroad will upgrade the lights, gates, and install cantilevers at the Summit Street grade crossing in the city of Toledo, Lucas County, by Jan. 7, 2027. The total cost of the project is $659,366. The Commission will provide funds from the State Grade Crossing Protection Fund to cover the PUCO’s cost of the project. The Commission will provide 75%, up to $500,000, and AAR will provide 25% as well as maintenance expenses and any costs over the PUCO’s maximum of $500,000.
To increase public safety during the construction of the project, the 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 whether active warning devices are needed. 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 67 in 2024.
