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TRANSPORTATION Railroad crossing gates getting a lumen boost Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad is installing LED lighting at 95 gated crossings between Eugene and Ashland Comment By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 17, 2015 at 5:42 PM Updated Jun 18, 2015 at 9:47 AM By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 17, 2015 at 5:42 PM Updated Jun 18, 2015 at 9:47 AM » Social News Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad is installing LED lighting at its gated crossings thanks to a grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation. The state, which received the funding from the Federal Highway Administration, picked up the tab for the lights that are being installed on 95 gated crossings along its route between Eugene and Ashlandm including 37 in Jackson County. There are a total of 928 mast and cantilevered crossings on the mainline from the Willamette Valley and Northern California. Rick Shankle, ODOT's crossing safety section manager, said his agency has been working with railroads to introduce LED lights for several years. "LED lights are proven to be brighter and seen at a greater distance than incandescent bulbs, and last longer," Shankle said. "LEDs are a conglomeration of a number of light bulbs, so you can have several LEDs go out and it's still effective, where when an incandescent bulb goes out you have to replace it because it's nonfunctional." ODOT's contribution is about $91,000, he said. Each gate is equipped with three sets of LED lights, in the middle and at both ends, he said. Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad is following the lead of Union Pacific, Albany & Eastern Railroad, and Portland & Western Railroad, Shankle said. "A couple of others have declined." After train activity slowed to a crawl because of rail, tunnel and economic issues for several years, CORP now typically runs five trains out of the Rogue Valley north to the Willamette Valley each week, said Assistant General Manager John Bullion. The trains range between 20 and 40 cars, primarily carrying home construction and wood products. "We are running through town several times a day, moving cars around for customers," Bullion said. "We may be moving through (parts of) Medford 30 times a day." Although ODOT hopes to see the project completed this year, Medford Public Works Director Corey Crebbin suggested it more likely would be finished in 18 to 24 months, with work on the crossings happening concurrently. "With all the parties involved, the paperwork will take a lot longer than the project will take," Crebbin said. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31 , and read his blog at www.mailtribune.com/EconomicEdge . By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 17, 2015 at 5:42 PM Updated Jun 18, 2015 at 9:47 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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