Northern indianas proximity to chicago, the nations largest rail hub, means many rail lines bisect the region

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded a $1.25 million Project Grant to the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) under the Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Program (CFDA 20.327) on May 1, 2025. The award funds a corridor study and environmental review for the St. Joseph and Elkhart County, Indiana Rail Corridor addressing safety and mobility challenges created by the Norfolk Southern rail line, which handles approximately 100 trains daily while intersecting with major vehicular thoroughfares including Lincoln Way (14,000 vehicles daily) and Ash Road (5,200 vehicles daily).

The primary deliverables under this grant include a comprehensive corridor study to identify safety improvements at four rail crossings and advance all necessary environmental prerequisites to position the recipient for future competitive grant applications. Specific improvements under consideration include at-grade crossing enhancements and grade separation of Ash Road. Upon potential future implementation, these improvements are expected to reduce collisions, increase emergency responder reliability, enhance non-motorized accessibility, support workforce mobility, and facilitate efficient freight movement while creating a quiet zone for community benefit. The project completion date is August 31, 2027.

The norfolk southern line between chicago and cleveland is busiest in the region, handling nearly 100 trains each day. This rail line parallels lincoln way, a busy thoroughfare handling an average of approximately 14,000 vehicles per day. Additionally, the rail line intersects with ASH road, a roadway carrying approximately 5,200 vehicles per day. The high volume of train traffic combined with the railways proximity to a major vehicular thoroughfare creates significant delays, increases congestion, limits mobility, and poses safety risks for both vehicular, non-motorized and train traffic. ST. Joseph and elkhart county, indiana rail corridor overpass and improvements (the project) is to enable corridor study identify safety improvements that can be made to the four (4) crossings, such as the grade-separation of ASH road, and advance all necessary environmental prerequisites to allow the recipient to competitively apply for future grants. If built, improvements of at-grade crossings and grade separation of ASH road, the project will reduce collisions, increase reliability for emergency responders, improve accessibility for non-motorized travelers, enhance livability for residents through the development of a quiet zone, support the safe and reliable movement of workers to high-quality jobs, and facilitate the efficient movement of freight.