Four railroad crossings in Canton got updated safety devices recently.
On December 16, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) gave the green light to construction authorization from Canton, along with the Metro Regional Transit Authority (MRTA) and the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC), to upgrade the crossings. The construction put in roadway gates and mast-mounted flashing lights in Canton at Ninth Street SW, Sixth Street SW, Fifth Street SW, and Third Street SW.
PUCO also approved permanent closure of the rail crossings at Second Street SW and Seccombe Place SW. The four agencies (Canton, MRTA, ORDC, and PUCO) will share the cost of the projects. This process, which depends upon cooperation among all the entities involved, is designed to promote and enhance the safety of the public at railroad crossings throughout Ohio.
To make sure the public is safe during construction, local governments are allowed to ask the PUCO for funding to provide Signs, illumination, rumble strips, and other devices at each project.
It is the responsibility of the PUCO to evaluate the state's grade crossings in order to determine whether or not active warning devices are necessary. Since the agency began making these surveys, the number of vehicle-train crashes has dropped significantly.
Canton officials could help in safety efforts by working with a postcard printing company on a card for residents warning them of changes and where the projects are located.
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