PUC: Improvements planned at Washington County railroad crossing after 2018 crash, acid spill

A series of flashing warning lights and a warning bell will be installed at a railroad crossing in Centerville, Washington County, where a freight train collided with a tractor-trailer carrying hydrochloric acid last year causing several injuries and an evacuation, according to the state Public Utility Commission.

The commission voted 5-0 Thursday to approve a safety plan included in a settlement addressing the PUC investigation into all matters related to the jurisdiction, condition and safety of the crossing.

On March 6, 2018, a train crashed into a tractor-trailer carrying more than 22 tons of hydrochloric acid. The crash happened at 10:40 a.m. near the intersection of Route 88 and Maple Glenn Road, where the latter road crosses a single track operated by Norfolk Southern Railway Co.

The truck’s driver was flown via medical helicopter to a trauma center, two people aboard the train were taken to a local hospital and eight others were treated at the scene for exposure to the acid, according to authorities.

The settlement was filed by Norfolk Southern, PennDOT, Centerville Borough and the PUC’s independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement. It also was supported by Mon River Docks, a business whose driveway is accessed by traveling through the crossing.

The agreement requires Norfolk Southern to construct, inspect and maintain the warning lights and bell. Centerville is responsible for installing, inspecting and maintaining: painted “stop lines” on the Maple Glenn Road approaches to the crossing; a continuously flashing warning light on the Route 88 approach; and a sign prohibiting tractor-trailers from turning left from Route 88 to head south on Maple Glenn Road.

PennDOT has agreed to facilitate all necessary permits and the application for public funds to reimburse Norfolk Southern for costs related to the construction of the warning lights and bell.

Centerville and Mon River Docks have agreed to an allocation of costs for the improvement work to be performed by the borough.

As stipulated in the settlement, the parties have agreed that all improvements related to the crossing will be completed by June 30, 2021.

Under Pennsylvania statute, the PUC has exclusive jurisdiction over the alteration, construction, relocation, suspension and abolition of public highway-railroad crossings.

The Commission’s Rail Safety Engineers oversee highway-railroad crossings throughout Pennsylvania – including about 5,600 at-grade crossings, where public roads cross railroad tracks; along with 3,200 bridge crossings, involving bridges carrying public roads over railroads; bridges carrying railroads over public roads; and bridges carrying railroads over other railroads.