SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Commerce Commission has approved its annual five-year Crossing Safety Improvement Program and a few area counties are included on the list.

Over $476 million from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund (GCPF) and Rebuild Illinois (RBI) will help communities and railroads pay for much-needed improvements at 424 crossing locations.

Included in that list is $2.5 million for White, Hamilton, and Jefferson counties to install and improve infrastructure to reduce the risk of collisions at eight crossings

ICC Commissioner Michael Carrigan says over 7,000 miles of track makes Illinois’ rail system the second largest in the nation, and the Grade Crossing Protection Fund is an essential tool for keeping these railways safe for all who use them.

The five-year plan proposes GCPF dollars to help cover the cost of 34 new bridge projects, 365 new grade crossing projects, and 15 low-cost emergency or experimental improvements at over 400 crossing locations.

Among the projects are updates across Illinois to keep pedestrians, bicyclists, and commuters safe while alongside railroad tracks.