The village of spencer is a small rural community located in western medina county, OH

The U.S. Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded a $9,812,525 Project Grant under the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program to the Rail Development Commission Ohio. The grant funds a project to reduce delays at highway-rail grade crossings in the Village of Spencer, Ohio by constructing a new connecting track, extending existing yard tracks, and installing automated switches to improve operational efficiency and safety at the WLE Spencer Yard. The project will benefit rail operators Norfolk Southern and Pioneer Lines, as well as the City of Elkhart, Indiana, St. Joseph County, Indiana, and the Indiana Department of Transportation. The project's key deliverables include a detailed work plan, budget, schedule, final design package, and a final performance report. The grant award period extends from May 1, 2024 to February 26, 2027.

Switching operations at w lespencer yard frequently cause delays by blocking highway-rail grade crossings at main street in the village of spencer.north main street (SR 301) is the primary north-south route through the village. The objective of the project is to reducedelays at the highway-rail grade crossings by constructing a new connecting track between the WLE brewster and akronsubdivisions, extending eastward the existing yard tracks and installing automated switches to improve operationalefficiency and safety at spencer yard.ordc (the grantee) will complete the following deliverables: a detailed project work plan, budget, and schedule a finaldesign package and a final performance report. The project beneficiaries include EWR norfolk southern (NS) pioneerlines the city of elkhart, indiana ST. Joseph county, indiana and indiana department of transportation (indot).