Ohio commission OKs closing of CSX, NS dual-track crossings

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio this week approved a joint petition from CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway to close the two grade crossings on Franklin Street in Orange Township, Delaware County.

The commission decided to close the dual-track crossings because combined they were determined to be the 39th most hazardous crossing in the state. The closure will reroute traffic to alternative crossings on Lewis Center Road that have active gates and warning light systems, commission officials said in a press release.

All vehicular and pedestrian traffic will be discontinued by Dec. 30. On average, the crossings were used by 64 vehicles every day.

The commission evaluates Ohio’s public grade crossings to determine safety needs, like installing active warning devices. Since the program began, the annual number of train-vehicle crashes in Ohio has decreased from 356 in 1990 to 53 in 2021, officials said.