Major maintenance project slated for Northern and Ohio Western Railroad The Sandusky County - Seneca County - City of Tiffin Port Authority (SSTPA), in conjunction with Omnitrax, has slated an approximately $900,000 railroad maintenance project for the Northern and Ohio Western Railroad (NOW) this fall. This project brings the total investment in rail and crossings for the short line railroad to more than $1.6 million over the past two years. SSTPA Board Chairman Jim Supance stressed the importance of the rail and its maintenance: "The short line railroad is a valuable asset to business in Seneca and Sandusky Counties. We are committed to continuing to invest in the rail and appreciate the partnership with Omnitrax on day-to-day operations and projects like these." The NOW is a short line railroad that spans 26 miles, from Tiffin to Woodville. It was purchased by the SSTPA in 1990 and is operated by Omnitrax, one of the largest short line railroad operators in North America. The NOW serves 8 shippers and carries more than 2,600 carloads each year. This fall, Omnitrax will replace 7,000 railroad ties, and resurface 24 miles of track at a cost of approximately $900,000. This is the second large investment for the year; new gates and lights were installed at two crossings and a road crossing was rehabbed, all in Gibsonburg, at a cost of $500,000 to the State of Ohio. The two projects, combined with brush cutting, signal updates and two road crossing rehabs, bring the total investment for 2017 to over $1.5 million. In 2016, six rail crossings were rehabbed for $100,000.