Improving Rail Safety and Connectivity in Fairfield
The Symmes Road Railroad Crossing Elimination Project involves the potential elimination of two at-grade railroad crossings at Symmes Road and North Gilmore Road.
An at-grade crossing is where the road used by vehicles and pedestrians intersects directly with the railroad crossing.
The proposed project would build an overpass at Symmes Road and close North Gilmore Road in order to separate the roadway from the railroad crossings. This would improve safety and connectivity for vehicles and pedestrians, reduce congestion, provide more reliable transportation operations, enhance economic development opportunities, and support a better quality of life for our community.
This site is a self-guided tour through a series of tabs that will walk you through the various improvement options under consideration within the Symmes Road Railroad Crossing Elimination project area. The site will also provide you with the opportunity to share your feedback with the project team.
Your comments are always welcome, but for your feedback to be included in the environmental record, your comments must be received by 11:59 p.m., Friday, Oct. 17, 2025.
If you need interpretation or translation services, or other reasonable accommodations to review these materials, and/or provide comment, please contact Dan Corey.
Dan Corey, Executive Director
Butler County Transportation Improvement District
About the Butler County Transportation Improvement District
The Butler County Transportation Improvement District (BCTID) works across political boundaries to provide creative opportunities for expediting transportation improvements, promoting economic development, and enhancing the quality of life in Butler County. The BCTID was established in 1993 by the Butler County Board of County Commissioners, and includes Liberty Township, West Chester Township, Fairfield Township, the City of Fairfield, and the City of Hamilton.
Project Overview
Symmes Road is an important east-west corridor for the movement of people, goods, and services through our community
The City of Fairfield is a vibrant community that features a diversity of land uses, including residential, commercial, office, public, parks and recreation, and industrial. CSX Transportation (CSX) rail lines, which pass through the northeast portion of Fairfield, are part of a vital rail throughfare connecting Louisville, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, and Detroit. Two additional tracks are used by a daily Amtrak service that connects New York and Chicago.
A joint effort to identify improvements and minimize potential impacts throughout the CSX rail corridor is underway between the cities of Fairfield and Hamilton. Some rail crossings in Fairfield have been separated, meaning that the rail line and the roadway used by personal vehicles and pedestrians are separated from one another. However, at-grade crossings — where the rail line and the roadway intersect one another — are still located at Symmes Road and North Gilmore Road resulting in a two-mile stretch of rail with no separated crossings for cars and people, only at-grade crossings.
Symmes Road serves as an important east-west corridor for local motorists, crossing the major industrial districts of Fairfield and Hamilton and connecting them to I-75 and State Route (SR) 4. The corridor is critical for workforce access, with approximately 36,000 people employed within three miles of the Symmes Road rail crossing.
The BCTID received a Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to conduct preliminary engineering for the Symmes Road grade separation and planning for the North Gilmore Road crossing. You can view a copy of the grant application in our Project Documents & Resources tab.
The two crossings are being evaluated independently and are currently at different stages of the FRA project lifecycle process, but it is important to note that the closure of the North Gilmore Road crossing would not be considered unless an overpass is built at Symmes Road.
We’ll ask you to look at the proposed alternatives for both crossings and give us your feedback on each option. Please continue reading and share your feedback with the project team to help shape our improvement priorities.
Project Benefits
- Improved safety and connectivity
- Reduced congestion
- More reliable transportation operations
- Enhanced economic development opportunities
- Better quality of life
The project is in the early stages of study and analysis. Stakeholder and public involvement are a critical piece of the project development process and is an integral component of our work throughout this process.
Study Area Map
This image shows the study area for the project.
Profile View
This image shows how the roadway would be built as a bridge over the railroad tracks.
Typical Section
This image shows some of the features that would be incorporated into the new design of the new roadway.
Purpose & Need
Addressing Purpose & Need is the foundation of the planning and evaluation process
New projects go through a planning and evaluation process that includes the development of a “Purpose and Need” statement. Basically, this is just what it sounds like. “What purpose will this project serve, and why is it needed?”
This project is needed because the existing Symmes Road and North Gilmore Road rail crossings pose significant safety and mobility concerns for the City of Fairfield and the surrounding area. Crashes have occurred at these crossings, resulting in fatalities and serious injuries. Traffic interruptions caused by trains are frequent, resulting in lengthy commutes and delayed emergency response times.
The purpose of the potential changes at the Symmes Road crossing is to improve safety and reduce traffic disruptions for the public (drivers, pedestrians, and emergency responders) that have been caused by conflict between vehicle and train traffic. The purpose of the potential changes at the North Gilmore Road crossing is to improve safety.
The Symmes Road & North Gilmore Road crossings ranked in the top 10% most hazardous crossings nationwide.
The Symmes Road crossing ranked in the top 7% of the most frequently blocked crossings in Ohio.
Tell us what you think!
Symmes Road Crossing - Proposed Alternatives
Evaluating the Alternatives
The Symmes Road Railroad Crossing Elimination Project includes the realignment of Symmes Road and the construction of a new bridge to carry Symmes Road over the existing CSX rail lines.
Three alternatives were developed and evaluated in the draft Feasibility Study prepared for the project. These alternatives are discussed in more detail below.
A quick note regarding historical project alternatives:
Originally developed in 2008, an initial alternative (Alternative 1) proposed a 68’-wide bridge along the existing Symmes Road alignment but was dismissed due to high retaining wall costs and the need for a prolonged road closure. These limitations still exist so this alternative was not reconsidered in the current study.
Recommendations for transportation improvements that are the size and scope of this project must include what is referred to as a ‘no build’ alternative, i.e., no significant improvements would be made within the project area.
Specific to the Symmes Road Rail Crossing Elimination Project, under the no build alternative, there would be no significant safety improvements and no measures to meaningfully reduce congestion at the Symmes Road at-grade crossing. A new bridge would not be constructed to separate vehicular and train traffic.
Trains would continue to block Symmes Road causing delay, congestion-related crashes, and hampering emergency responses.
If the no build alternative were selected, the project team would recommend low-cost safety upgrades to the Symmes Road crossing, such as lighting, LED conversion of the signalized crossing gates, and remote system monitoring. These improvements would not satisfy the purpose and need of the project.
Tell us what you think!
Alternative 2 would construct a new bridge on Symmes Road over the CSX rail lines, south of the existing crossing, which would eliminate the current at-grade crossing.
Alternative 2 would begin at the western approach to Industry Drive and provide a three-leg, two-lane roundabout at Industry Drive. From there, Alternative 2 would turn to the south and the profile of Symmes Road would rise significantly to travel over the CSX railroad tracks south of the current crossing. The bridge would cross the tracks at an approximately 15° skew.
As Alternative 2 continues to the east, a five-leg (three roadways and two commercial drives), two-lane roundabout would be constructed at the current intersection of Symmes Road with Tedia Way. Alternative 2 would end at the current intersection of Symmes Road and North Gilmore Road.
This alternative would provide an 11’ wide shared-use path on the north side of Symmes Road from Industry Drive on the west to North Gilmore Road on the east. A 5’ wide sidewalk would also be constructed on the south side of Symmes Road from Industry Drive to North Gilmore Road.
Some additional considerations for this alternative include:
- Alternative 2 is approximately 0.75 miles long.
- The design of Alternative 2 includes several curves in the roadway west of the proposed bridge, which would require lower speeds than the existing speed limit.
- Symmes Road would be a four-lane roadway from Industry Drive to Tedia Way and a five-lane roadway from Tedia way to North Gilmore Road.
- Alternative 2 does not require the relocation of any residential properties.
- Alternative 2 is not expected to adversely impact cultural, historical, or public recreational resources.
- Alternative 2 would impact some streams and the most wetlands of all three alternatives.
- The estimated construction cost of Alternative 2 is $23.1 million.
A full alternatives comparison is provided in the Comparison Matrix tab.
Tell us what you think!
Alternative 3 would construct a new bridge on Symmes Road over the CSX rail lines, south of the existing crossing, which would eliminate the current at-grade crossing.
Alternative 3 would begin at the western approach to Hicks Boulevard and provide a four-leg (three roadways and one commercial drive) two-lane roundabout at Hicks Boulevard. From there, Alternative 3 would travel along the existing Symmes Road alignment nearly to Industry Drive where it turns south. Alternative 3 would close the Symmes Road/Industry Drive intersection permanently, and the city would remove the roadway on Industry Drive north of Veteran Drive.
Continuing east, Alternative 3 would raise Symmes Road over the rail lines. The new bridge would span the railroad slightly south of the current crossing location. The bridge would cross the tracks at an approximately 38° skew.
As Alternative 3 continues east, the Symmes Road intersection with Tedia Way would also be removed and a commercial drive would be constructed to maintain access to the business on Symmes Road west of Tedia Way. Alternative 3 would end at the current intersection of Symmes Road and North Gilmore Road.
This alternative would provide an 11’ wide shared-use path on the north side of Symmes Road from Hicks Boulevard on the west to North Gilmore Road on the east. A 5’ wide sidewalk would also be constructed on the south side of Symmes Road from Hicks Boulevard to North Gilmore Road.
Some additional considerations for this alternative include:
- Alternative 3 is approximately one mile long.
- Alternative 3 is designed to accommodate a 45 MPH speed limit.
- Symmes Road would be a five-lane roadway from Hicks Boulevard to North Gilmore Road.
- This alternative reduces the overall amount of paved surface in the project area, which reduces stormwater runoff.
- Industry Drive would end at Veteran Drive and would not connect to Symmes Road.
- The connection between Tedia Way and Symmes Road would be removed.
- Alternative 3 is not expected to adversely impact cultural, historical, or public recreational resources.
- Alternative 3 would impact some streams and wetlands.
- The estimated construction cost of Alternative 3 is $28.7 million.
A full alternatives comparison is provided in the Comparison Matrix tab.
Tell us what you think!
Alternative 4 would construct a new bridge on Symmes Road over the CSX rail lines, which would eliminate the current at-grade crossing.
Alternative 4 would begin at the western approach to Hicks Boulevard and provide a four-leg (three roadways and one commercial drive) two-lane roundabout at the intersection of Symmes Road and Hicks Boulevard. An additional three-leg roundabout would be constructed at the current intersection of Hicks Boulevard and Veteran Drive.
Alternative 4 would rename the northern segment of Hicks Boulevard and the entirety of Veteran Drive to Symmes Road, realigning Symmes Road south on Hicks Boulevard and east on Veteran Drive.
Alternative 4 maintains the intersection of Symmes Road and Industry Drive south of the existing intersection. To the east, Alternative 4 matches the Alternative 3 alignment. Alternative 4 would raise Symmes Road over the rail lines. The new bridge would span the railroad slightly south of the current crossing location. The bridge would cross the tracks at an approximately 38° skew.
As Alternative 4 continues east, the Symmes Road intersection with Tedia Way would be maintained and a commercial drive would be built to maintain access to the businesses on Symmes Road west of Tedia Way. Alternative 4 would end at the current intersection of Symmes Road and North Gilmore Road.
This alternative would provide an 11’ wide shared-use path on the north side of Symmes Road from Hicks Boulevard on the west to North Gilmore Road on the east. A 5’ wide sidewalk would also be constructed on the south side of Symmes Road from Hicks Boulevard to North Gilmore Road.
Some additional considerations for this alternative include:
- Alternative 4 is approximately 1.05 miles long.
- Alternative 4 would potentially redirect more southbound SR 4 traffic to/from Hicks Boulevard.
- Alternative 4 is designed to accommodate a 45 MPH speed limit.
- Symmes Road would be a five-lane roadway from Hicks Boulevard to North Gilmore Road.
- Connections to Industry Drive and Tedia Way from Symmes Road would be maintained.
- Alternative 4 is not expected to adversely impact cultural, historical, or public recreational resources.
- Alternative 4 would impact some streams and wetlands.
- The estimated construction cost of Alternative 4 is $29.5 million.
- A full alternatives comparison is provided in the Comparison Matrix tab.
A full alternatives comparison is provided in the Comparison Matrix tab.
Tell us what you think!
Symmes Road Comparison Matrix
We are currently performing an analysis of multiple alternatives to complete the FRA project development phase of the project.
- One key component of this phase is the environmental analysis and selection of a Preferred Alternative.
- This environmental analysis carefully considers how each alternative could impact the surrounding area and what steps could be taken to mitigate those impacts.
The chart below shows how the alternatives compare to each other. It uses industry standard benchmarks and national research to provide a relevant baseline when comparing multiple criteria.
This matrix shows you how the alternatives compare to one another — keeping in mind that all-important Purpose & Need statement we talked about earlier.
Comparison Matrix
Legend:
- Positive &/or Low Impact
- Neutral
- Negative &/or High Impact
| Key Issue | No-Build | Alternative 2 | Alternative 3 | Alternative 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulfills Purpose and Need | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Safety | Conflicts remain between vehicles and trains | Eliminates conflicts with trains, should improve safety at two intersections, adds pedestrian and bicycle facilities | Eliminates conflicts with trains, should improve safety at three intersections, adds pedestrian and bicycle facilities | Eliminates conflicts with trains, should improve safety at four intersections, adds pedestrian and bicycle facilities |
| Capacity Analysis | No Change | Adds capacity | Adds capacity | Adds capacity |
| Roadway Design | No geometric deficiencies | Reduced design speed of 30 MPH over railroad | No geometric deficiencies | No geometric deficiencies |
| Access Management | No Change | Provides roundabout access to Tedia Way and Industry Drive | Includes option to limit access to Tedia Way and Industry Drive | Includes option to limit access to Tedia Way and Industry Drive |
| Structural Design | N/A | Requires new structure over CSX Railroad Tracks | Requires new structure over CSX Railroad Tracks | Requires new structure over CSX Railroad Tracks |
| Drainage | No impact | Stormwater improvements made in project area | Stormwater improvements made in project area | Stormwater improvements made in project area |
| Maintenance of Traffic | No impact | Temporary traffic impacts during construction will occur. Anticipate two 12-week closures for roundabout construction | Increased construction phases and duration compared to Alternative 2 | Increased construction phases and duration compared to Alternative 2 |
| Right of Way Requirements | No impact | Impacts 30 properties, relocation of 5 commercial properties | Impacts 46 properties, relocation of 3 residential and 6 commercial properties | Impacts 49 properties, relocation of 1 residential and 4 commercial properties |
| Utilities | Impacts utilities along Symmes Road | Impacts utilities along Symmes Road | Impacts utilities along Symmes Road | Impacts utilities along Symmes Road |
| Railroad Concerns | No change | Eliminates At-grade rail crossing | Eliminates At-grade rail crossing | Eliminates At-grade rail crossing |
| Wetland/Streams | No impact | Impacts to Streams and Wetlands | Impacts to Streams and Wetlands | Impacts to Streams and Wetlands |
| Protected Environmental Resources | No impact | No impact | No impact | No impact |
| Ecological Threatened & Endangered Species | No impact | Potential impacts to endangered bat habitat | Potential impacts to endangered bat habitat | Potential impacts to endangered bat habitat |
| Cultural and Historical Resources | No impact | No Resources affected | No Resources affected | No Resources affected |
| Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Requirements | No impact | Recommend further assessment on 18 properties | Recommend further assessment on 20 properties | Recommend further assessment on 29 properties |
Relative to the cost of the project, there is not a meaningful difference in construction costs between each of the potential alternatives.
Tell us what you think!
North Gilmore Road Crossing - Proposed Alternatives
Evaluating the alternatives
The evaluation process for the North Gilmore Road rail crossing is to determine if the Purpose & Need for the project can be accomplished by eliminating the crossing or if the crossing should remain. This evaluation is separate from the Symmes Road crossing analysis. The build and no build alternatives were developed and evaluated in the draft Feasibility Study prepared for the project. These alternatives are discussed in more detail below.
Under the no build alternative, there would be no significant improvement in safety at the North Gilmore Road crossing. If the no build alternative were selected, the project team would recommend safety upgrades to the North Gilmore Road crossing, such as lighting, LED conversion of the signalized crossing gates, and remote system monitoring. These improvements would not satisfy the Purpose and Need of the project.
Tell us what you think!
Alternative 1 would close North Gilmore Road on both sides of the railroad to eliminate vehicular/train conflicts. A cul-de-sac would be constructed at the north approach to the railroad. The southern approach of North Gilmore Road would be realigned and merged into Busway Lane.
Additional roadway and intersection improvements would likely be needed at Busway Lane and Donald Drive as a result of the roadway closure.
The closing of the North Gilmore Road crossing combined with the benefits of a new Symmes Road overpass would improve safety for those who travel through this area, including students and their families who travel to and from nearby schools. If the Symmes Road crossing improvements are made without the corresponding North Gilmore Road improvements, it would leave the North Gilmore Road crossing as the only at-grade crossing within a 4.5-mile rail corridor.
Tell us what you think!
North Gilmore Road Crossing Comparison Matrix
We are currently performing an analysis of multiple alternatives to complete the FRA project development phase of the project.
- One key component of this phase is the environmental analysis and selection of a Preferred Alternative.
- This environmental analysis carefully considers how each alternative could impact the surrounding area and what steps could be taken to mitigate those impacts.
The chart below shows how the alternatives compare to each other. It uses industry standard benchmarks and national research to provide a relevant baseline when comparing multiple criteria.
This matrix shows you how the alternatives compare to one another — keeping in mind that all-important Purpose & Need statement we talked about earlier.
Comparison Matrix
Legend:
- Positive &/or Low Impact
- Neutral
- Negative &/or High Impact
| Key Issue | No-Build | Alternative 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Fulfills Purpose and Need | No | Yes |
| Safety | Conflicts remain between vehicles and trains | Eliminates train/vehicle conflicts |
| Roadway Design | Potential for uneven tracks/rough crossing remains | No geometric deficiencies |
| Structural Design | N/A | N/A |
| Drainage | No impact | Stormwater improvements made in project area |
| Maintenance of Traffic | No impact | Traffic maintained during construction |
| Right of Way Requirements | No impact | Impacts 1 commercial property, no relocations |
| Utilities | No impact | Minor impacts to overhead utilities along North Gilmore Road |
| Railroad Concerns | No change | Eliminates At-grade rail crossing |
| Wetland/Streams | No impact | No impact |
| Protected Environmental Resources | No impact | No impact |
| Ecological Threatened & Endangered species | No impact | No impact |
| Cultural and Historical Resources | No impact | No Resources affected |
| Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Requirements | No impact | Recommend further assessment on 5 properties |
Tell us what you think!
Project Resources & Documents
Symmes Alternatives
- Alternative 2 South Bridge Alignment
- Alternative 3 North Bridge Alignment
- Alternative 4 Veteran Drive Alignment
North Gilmore Alternatives
Other
National League of Cities Article Highlighting City of Fairfield’s Efforts
Schedule & Next Steps
The project team will spend the remainder of the summer finalizing this alternative selection study based on the analysis we have completed, feedback from our transportation partners, and the stakeholder and public comments we receive.
We anticipate recommending a Preferred Alternative for the Symmes Road crossing in the early fall of 2025. At that time, we will begin a more detailed design process, move into discussions related to utility relocation and right of way, and then ultimately — pending funding approval and other related factors — construction.
Planning work for the decision to close or not to close North Gilmore Road and eliminate the railroad crossing at that location will continue with the expectation that the final analysis will be completed in 2026.
The BCTID has received $3,000,000 in federal grants for the Planning and Project Development of these two projects, however, no construction funding has been received for either project at this time.
Your feedback on the information you’ve just reviewed is very important to us. You can access more information — including the drawings for each alternative — by using the links in the Resources tab to the left. For your comments to be included in the environmental record, comments must be received by 11:59 p.m., Friday, Oct. 17, 2025.
Thank you again for taking the time to review this information and for being a part of our planning process.
Summer 2025
- Finalize alternative selection study
Fall 2025
- Recommend Symmes Road crossing Preferred Alternative
- Begin more detailed design
2026
- Continue North Gilmore Road crossing evaluation