COLUMBUS — The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) have approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) directing the installation of mast-mounted flashing lights and roadway gates at the following crossings:

• Norfolk Southern Railway, River Road A and River Road C, both in the Village of South Point

• CSX Transportation, Raymond Road in the city of Marysville, Union County

The grade crossing improvement projects are to be completed by June 9, 2016. Federal funding for these projects is provided through the ORDC.

The PUCO continues this cooperative process to enhance and promote public safety at rail crossings throughout the state.

To increase public safety during the construction of the projects, local governments may seek funding from the PUCO for the cost of safety improvements such as rumble strips, illumination, improved signage or other enhancements at the project location.

Funding for such improvements is provided by the State Grade Crossing Safety Fund and may not exceed $5,000 per project.

The PUCO is responsible for evaluating Ohio’s public grade crossings to determine the need for installing active warning devices. Since the PUCO began implementing these evaluations, the annual number of train-motor vehicle crashes in Ohio has decreased significantly, from 123 in 2001 to 76 in 2014.

The Ohio Rail Hotline, at (866) 814-RAIL (7245), provides Ohioans with a toll-free resource for all railroad crossing questions.

For more information regarding these crossings, access the Ohio railroad website at http://gradecrossings.puco.ohio.gov/.