The purpose of the stephenson county at-grade rail crossing mitigation plan is to evaluate public at-grade railroad crossings in stephenson county

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded $300,000 to Stephenson County Emergency Management Agency on May 1, 2025, under the Railroad Crossing Elimination Program (CFDA 20.327) to develop a comprehensive mitigation plan for public at-grade railroad crossings in Stephenson County, Illinois. The project, with a completion deadline of January 31, 2027, will assess current crossing conditions, identify candidates for grade separation and closure, prioritize improvement projects, and recommend safety and mobility enhancements for crossings where separation or closure is not feasible. The recipient will conduct technical analysis, facilitate stakeholder outreach, and prepare a detailed Project Management Plan (PMP) followed by a comprehensive Project Planning Package that aligns with FRA guidance on railroad capital project development.

The deliverables will include all planning documentation, technical analyses, and stakeholder engagement activities necessary to advance toward implementation of grade crossing improvements that benefit Stephenson County, the City of Chicago, and the Central Pacific Railroad Company. As a planning-stage project within the FRA's Railroad Crossing Elimination Program, this award focuses on the foundation-setting activities required before capital construction or physical crossing improvements can be undertaken, with funding disbursed upon achievement of project milestones.

The project will assess current crossing conditions, identify candidates for grade separation and closure, detail and prioritize grade separation and closure projects, and describe other means to improve the safety and mobility of people and goods at highway- and pathway-rail grade crossings for those crossings where separation closure is not feasible. The recipient will prepare a project management plan (PMP), that describes how the project will be implemented and monitored to ensure effective, efficient, and safe delivery of the project on time and within budget. The PMP will describe, in detail, the activities and steps necessary to complete the tasks outlined in this statement of work. The recipient will conduct technical analysis, stakeholder outreach, and other project planning activities, and prepare a project planning package as detailed in the PMP. The project planning package will be consistent with the objectives of the project planning lifecycle stage identified in the FRA guidance on development and implementation of railroad capital projects (january 11, 2023). The project planning package will include all information described in the PMP. FRA will review the planning package for acceptance. Information and activities necessary to perform and complete the required project planning package will be included in the approved PMP. The projects beneficiaries include stephenson county chicago, central pacifiic railroad company.