YOUNGSTOWN - The drive over five Valley railroad crossings may be a little smoother thanks to $700,000 in state and federal grants.

The Ohio Rail Development Commission has approved a $350,000 state grant to match funding from a Federal Railroad Administration Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement grant for more than 22 miles of the Youngstown and Southeastern Railroad (YSRR).

The funding will help pay for the installation of more than 10,000 ties and perform surfacing along the line between Struthers and Elkrun Township in Mahoning and Columbiana Counties.

The railroad is familiar to people who drive along Southern Boulevard in Boardman.

Five highway crossing surfaces will also be repaired.

The 40-miles long YSRR runs from Lowellville, Ohio, to Darlington, Pa.