West Hamilton News

Stopped trains and other issues at at-grade railroad crossings can disrupt traffic flow, slow down emergency services, and be a general inconvenience for our community - to say the least. Unfortunately, municipalities such as Hamilton have limited control over railroad operations. A recent ruling that Ohio State laws regarding blocked crossings are not enforceable limits what local municipalities can do about these issues. 

For that reason, we are asking residents to help us with these issues by reporting them directly to the rail companies responsible for the crossings. It is also helpful to report them to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for tracking purposes.

HOW TO REPORT A BLOCKED CROSSING TO THE RAILROADS

Contacting the rail companies directly is the first step to be taken when there is an issue at a crossing. This ensures that the company responsible for that crossing is notified and can dispatch appropriate staff to help resolve the issue. If there is an immediate safety concern, 911 should also be contacted.

At each rail crossing, there is a sign with the information needed to report issues called an Emergency Notification System (ENS) sign. It includes the number to call (see below) to report stopped trains and other railroad-related issues, an identification number for the crossing and the rail company responsible for the crossing.

The phone numbers for reporting rail problems or emergencies in Hamilton will be one of two numbers: 

1-800-232-0144 (for CSX owned crossings)

1-800-946-4744 (for Norfolk Southern owned crossings)

In Hamilton, most at-grade crossings are owned by CSX with the exception of the “s-curve” route which begins at the High Street underpass and continues south along Erie Highway. This route is owned by Norfolk Southern and includes at-grade crossings at: S 7th Street, East Ave, Maple Ave, Grand Blvd, Bobmeyer Rd, and N Gilmore Rd.

CSX also allows issues and concerns to be reported directly through their website with their TellCSX tool.

HOW TO REPORT TO THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION (FRA)

Reports should also be sent to the FRA which is a federal oversight and regulatory agency with the mission to enable the safe, reliable, and efficient movement of people and goods for a strong America. Telling the FRA about issues we encounter locally can be done through their website and these reports help guide future policy. 

HOW TO REPORT TO THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION (FRA)

Reports should also be sent to the FRA which is a federal oversight and regulatory agency with the mission to enable the safe, reliable, and efficient movement of people and goods for a strong America. Telling the FRA about issues we encounter locally can be done through their website and these reports help guide future policy. 

INFORMATION ON RAILROAD CROSSINGS

Recently, the Ohio Rail Development Commission (Rail Commission) has introduced a freely accessible tool designed to assess the repercussions of obstructed rail/roadway at-grade crossings in Ohio. The Rail Crossing Community Impact Index (RCCII) is an interactive resource enabling users to locate crossings within their communities and generate weighted scores for motorized, non-motorized, and truck-specific traffic.

The RCCII scores serve as a means to pinpoint areas with the most pronounced impact, aiding in the prioritization of locations in the project selection process. Furthermore, the tool furnishes crucial information to bolster the development of rail improvement programs, including applications for discretionary grant funding.

Original source can be found here.