Illinois commission OKs crossing upgrade agreements

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) recently approved agreements for the installation of new automatic warning devices at grade crossings near Paxton and Winnebago.

ICC staff recommends that the state’s Grade Crossing Protection Fund (GCPF) be used to pay 95% of the $609,000 installation costs for the crossing upgrade near Winnebago. The Chicago Central & Pacific Railroad will cover the remainder as well as future costs to maintain the warning devices.

ICC staff also recommends that the GCPF be used to pay 95% of the $573,000 installation costs for the crossing upgrade near Paxton. The Illinois Central Railroad will cover the remainder and all future costs to maintain the warning devices.

In addition, the staff recommends that the GCPF be used to pay the entire $61,000 cost to improve highway approach grades at a crossing in Sommer Township. The township’s road district must maintain the reconstructed approaches, and the Ludlow Township Road District must cover all costs to install and maintain advance warning signs near the crossing.

The ICC requires that all the crossing work be completed within 12 months.

“The allocation of GCPF funds enables [these] safety projects to move forward, and that is good news for the communities and all those traversing the crossings,” said ICC Commissioner Michael Carrigan in a press release.