Illinois panel OKs $3.8M in rail safety upgrades

The Illinois Commerce Commission late last week approved $3.8 million worth of rail safety improvements in multiple locations around the state.

The largest is a $1.76 million project that calls for installing new automatic warning devices and making highway approach improvements at five BNSF Railway Co. grade crossings in Galesburg, according to an ICC press release.

The state Grade Crossing Protection Fund (GCPF) will be used to cover up to $1.67 million in design and construction costs and $36,109 of the highway approach improvements. BNSF will pay the rest of the signal design and installation costs, along with all future maintenance. The city of Galesburg will be responsible for future maintenance of the highway approaches, ICC officials said.

Other rail safety upgrades and GCPF funding that ICC approved last week include:
• a $1.03 million project to make highway approach grade improvements at five crossings in Perry County. The GCPF will cover 100% of the approach rehabilitation costs, while the Perry County Unit Road District and Perry County Highway Department will be responsible for future maintenance;

• a $564,186 project to install new automatic warning devices and circuitry at the Maryland Road crossing over Illinois Central Railroad Co. (CN) track near Radom, Washington County. The GCPF will fund $535,977 in signal and design costs, while the railroad will pay the rest of the signal design and installation expenses, the cost of temporary stop signs and all future maintenance; and

• a $461,989 project to install new automatic warning devices and make highway approach improvements at the South Maple Street crossing over CSX track in Montrose. GCPF is expected to fund $438,892 in signal design and construction costs, while CSX pay the remainder of the signal design and installation costs, and the entire cost of future maintenance of the signals and circuitry. The city of Montrose will pay all costs of the highway approach maintenance.