Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Railroad Crossings topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
ICC suggests petition route to address Oak Street crossing; Pearl Street options debated
Summary
Consultants and the Illinois Commerce Commission reviewed designs and paths to improve railroad crossings at Oak and Pearl Streets; ICC recommended a petition process for Oak Street to compel CSX to accept an ICC-backed design, while Pearl Street faces right-of-way and depot-site constraints that could require changing Vine Street traffic patterns.
Representatives from Milano & Grunloh and the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) discussed railroad crossing improvement options for Oak and Pearl Streets with the Teutopolis Board on May 6. For Oak Street, prior coordination with CSX began in 2023 and an easement negotiation remains under early review; the ICC recommended pursuing an alternate design that avoids acquiring an easement and suggested a formal petition process that could require CSX to accept an ICC-supported design.
For Pearl Street, design work began in 2025 but CSX has not been engaged because of cost concerns. The ICC outlined two paths: pursue a petition and broader design that could elevate Pearl Street and potentially require closing or converting Vine Street to one-way because of safety and right-of-way impacts related to a former depot site now used by Siemer Milling; or limit the project area to avoid railroad right-of-way and accept that a heavily traveled, deteriorated segment would remain unimproved.
