Mike Smith, Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) commissioner, testified on Jan. 18 at a U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials hearing on railroad crossing safety.
In his remarks, Smith outlined the state’s challenges, opportunities and success in improving rail crossing safety.
Twelve cities, towns and counties in Indiana received Local Trax Rail Overpass Program grants in 2018 for crossing closure, grade separation, and other safety enhancement projects at highway-rail intersections on local roads. By the end of 2025, 11 Local Trax projects will be under construction.
Indiana typically receives approximately $8 million through the federal Section 130 Rail-Highway Crossing Program funds to improve safety at rail crossings. The state will use the funding to improve 85 of its top 100 highest risk crossings on state and local roadways over the next five years.
“Even as we gain momentum, Indiana still finds itself among the highest incidences of rail crossing collisions, injuries and fatalities,” Smith said. “As of November, there were 78 collisions at public highway-railroad crossings in 2023, resulting in 12 fatalities and 20 injuries. These numbers make it clear that the job is not finished, and there is more work to be done.”
INDOT has developed a Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Action Plan to improve safety and reduce incidents between trains and road users at highway-rail crossings. The plan is currently awaiting final approval from the Federal Rail Administration.
“INDOT continues to engage with our state, federal and local partners on the safety of rail crossings in Indiana,” Smith said. “Support from federal grants and programs, the railroads and local agencies has been invaluable to our success up to this point.”