The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) on Oct. 1 announced its approval of the rail crossing safety upgrades in Tuscarawas and Muskingum counties.
The upgrades will see flashing lights and gates installed by Columbus & Ohio River Railroad (CUOH) at the S. Lake Street grade crossing in Tuscarawas County. Owens Illinois Glass (OIG) will install the same equipment at the Pershing Road and Pine Street grade crossing in Muskingum County. Both of the projects are expected to be completed by July 1, 2026.
The Tuscarawas County project will be paid for with $489,073 in federal funds, while the Muskingum County project will be paid for with $750,260 in federal funds.
Officials said local governments may seek additional funding from PUCO for the cost of other safety improvements like rumble strips, illumination, and improved signage. Those improvements would come from the State Grade Crossing Safety Fund and may not exceed $5,000 per project.
PUCO is the oversight agency with responsibility for evaluating the state’s public grade crossing for safety and determines if the crossing needs active warning devices installed. Since PUCO began evaluating the grade crossings, the annual number of train-motor vehicle crashes has fallen, officials said.