Press Release

PUC Approves Settlement Following Extensive Railroad Crossing Safety Investigation in Franklin County

Published on 3/10/2022

Filed under: Rails

Settlement Addresses Safety Issues Concerning Norfolk Southern Railway Crossing at Lighthouse Road, Outside Chambersburg

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today approved a joint settlement that addresses concerns that have been raised about a railroad crossing outside Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, following an extensive safety investigation initiated by the PUC.

The Commission voted 3-0 to approve the joint settlement addressing safety concerns that were raised about a rail crossing on Lighthouse Road (T-425), in Guilford Township, Franklin County, where Lighthouse Road crosses a single track railroad line operated by Norfolk Southern Railway Company.

The settlement calls for the closing and abolition of the crossing after the investigation determined that necessary safety improvements were not feasible at that location. The joint settlement was supported by Guilford Township, Norfolk Southern, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), and the PUC’s independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement.

In conjunction with the closing and abolition of the crossing, the township is responsible for the design and construct of a relief road to address traffic flow around the former crossing and the railroad will remove the roadway surface around the crossing along with warning signs associated with the crossing.  Additionally, a small portion of Lighthouse Road and State Route 11 will be vacated and PennDOT will remove railroad crossing signs and turn lane markings along State Route 11 which are related to the now-abolished crossing on Lighthouse Road.

Per the settlement, all work related to this project is scheduled to be completed by May 1, 2022, unless another date is agreed to by the parties.

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Docket No.: I-2016-2527248

Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov