Buckeye Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded a $7,245,000 Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) grant to the Ohio Rail Development Commission to improve safety at three railroad crossings in the Iron Triangle neighborhood of Fostoria.

“We’ve seen how rail companies exploit Ohio communities and fail to keep their railroads safe – whether it’s lax safety inspections or resisting our bipartisan rail safety bill to prevent derailments. Railroads have ignored safety for too long, and many railroad crossings in Ohio are dangerous for residents. This investment will help prevent accidents between cars and trains that can claim lives,” said Brown. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is finally giving Ohio communities the resources they need to address the hazards caused by the railroads, and make our roads safer.”

The funds will support the planning and construction to eliminate three grade crossings in the Iron Triangle neighborhood. Eliminating grade crossings improves safety by preventing collisions between trains and cars or pedestrians, and separated crossings ensure that cars and first responders are not delayed by passing or stopped trains.

In March, Brown led a bipartisan group of colleagues, including Ohio Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH), to introduce his Railway Safety Act of 2023 that will improve rail safety protocols, finally standing up to railroad company lobbyists so no other community has to deal with a derailment, as experienced in East Palestine and other Ohio communities, including derailments that residents of Springfield, Sandusky, and Steubenville, have dealt with. The Railway Safety Act would require the Federal Railroad Administration to study and identify the 20 most dangerous railroad crossings in the U.S. that are frequently blocked. The bill also requires enhanced safety procedures for trains carrying hazardous materials, the deployment of new technology to prevent derailments and a new requirement to ensure Class 1 railroads operate trains with a 2-person crew.  

Brown has been a leader in securing crucial infrastructure funding for Ohio’s communities. Earlier this year, Brown announced more than $1.6 billion to build a companion bridge to the Brent Spence Bridge along with significant improvements to the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor. Brown also fought to include his Build America Buy America Act in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which applies strong Buy America rules to all taxpayer-funded infrastructure and public works projects – to ensure American taxpayer dollars support American jobs in every federal infrastructure program. This legislation closes loopholes and will secure major investments in American-made iron, steel, and manufactured products.

Original source can be found here.