The lights start to flash, the arm comes down and a motorist’s wait begins; it’s another wait behind yet another train.

Many area drivers have probably experienced waiting for trains to cross the tracks at Bolivar Drive near the storage facilities of the American Refining Group.

For those who believe there has been more train traffic on tracks through that area, the assessment is correct, and there isn’t much that can be done about the situation at present.

According to ARG officials, the increased train traffic is not only generated by the refinery, but also by a number of other companies in the area moving freight. It’s considered a sign of progress.

Devon Kloss, ARG manager of customer service and logistics, said the company has had an increased number of cars moving on the tracks, “but the number of trains moving through town isn’t specifically related to ARG” as a number of other companies also are shipping freight.

Sara Furlong, ARG’s executive communication coordinator, noted the company is transporting “more crude by train, and when they block the crossing it’s because they’re performing switching operations” of the trains in that vicinity.

“When they do (switching operations), that’s what is causing the delay,” she said. “Furthermore, they’re required by federal law to conduct airbrake testing” on every car, every time, she said, adding this is required because the trains haul a mix of hazardous and non-hazardous materials.

Furlong said there are state transportation laws that mandate train traffic cannot block a roadway for more than five minutes, except under circumstances that include switching operations.

Michele Skaggs, ARG logistics analyst, said the train traffic has also increased in that area because “any car that is destined for Bradford, whether it’s for ARG or any other customer that is serviced by the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad (BPRR) is dropped off at Bolivar Drive.

“They also pick up anything that is going out of Bradford at Bolivar Drive,” Skaggs explained, noting this includes all trains traveling south from Buffalo, N.Y. or northbound from Butler, that may stop at Bolivar Drive for pick-ups or drop-offs.

“A lot of the cars that go through don’t even stop here,” she added.

Furlong said ARG had met with officials with the BPRR a month ago after the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission received a complaint about the Bolivar Drive crossing. She stated that ARG is the railroad company’s biggest customer on the line.

“We met just to discuss the issue and possible solutions,” Furlong recalled. “Their conclusion was that nothing short of a huge capital investment” by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), BPRR and ARG would be needed to create an overpass.

Officials in the meeting had stated the overpass that had been built over railroad tracks in Johnsonburg had taken approximately 10 years and $10 million to complete. A similar project in Bradford was speculated to cost much more than that amount.

“We certainly came prepared to discuss it and work around it because obviously ARG tries to be a good citizen and BPRR is also interested in resolving the concern,” Furlong shared.

“But it’s kind of like the perfect storm that a lot more materials, not just from ARG but nationwide, are moving by rail,” she said. “The trucking industry is facing a huge shortage in terms of trucking capacity and driving shortages. Those things are compounding the issue.”

Skaggs also pointed out the fact that there is increased vehicle traffic to the area because of the big box stores, convenience stores and restaurants that have been added to the Foster Brook area over the years.

On a final note, Kloss said ARG just wants to “make it clear that we recognize (the trains) are inconvenient, but nothing short of massive capital projects (by the state, BPRR and ARG) would change this.”

When contacted, state Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, agreed that a project comprising an overpass in the Bolivar Drive area would be difficult to orchestrate financially because of more pressing repair and replacement issues with roads and bridges.

“I’ve heard people talking about the issue and being held up by the trains, I’ve been held up there myself, I think we all have,” he admitted. “But certainly, that would take a lot of looking into to see what options might be there. The difficult part is we have so many roads that need paved, that is certainly the priority before tackling new construction.”

That being said, Causer said he would still entertain speaking with officials from PennDOT to address the issue of train traffic on Bolivar Drive.

“I’m certainly willing to have that conversation with PennDOT so they can look at it,” he concluded.