If you’ve ever traveled on Route 2 through New Martinsville, West Virginia, you’ve likely experienced the headache of being stuck behind a train at the CSX railroad crossing. The intersection of Rt 2 and the CSX tracks is notorious for causing delays, often backing up traffic for up to an hour.

Recently it has been occurring more frequently, and it seems like it’s almost always around the busiest times of day, in the morning when people are trying to get to work. Or in the afternoon when people are trying to get home.

This bottleneck affects not just locals but also travelers passing through, impacting the local economy and quality of life. The lack of infrastructure upgrades and coordination between transportation authorities exacerbates the issue.

Adding to the problem is one too many red lights and an array of truck traffic coming and going in all directions. Add more frequent train traffic and longer trains, and the problem magnifies.

It’s not a new problem, but with more vehicles on the road, Inadequate crossing infrastructure, no alternative or very limited alternative routes, and the impact on local businesses and residents becomes almost unbearable.

Potential solutions have not helped. Communication between CSX and local authorities has been tried and failed.

The solution lies in improved crossing technology or infrastructure upgrades to develop bypass or alternative routes.

Let’s flesh it out. Delayed emergency vehicles can mean life or death. Kids might miss school or activities.

Employees stuck in traffic can impact local businesses and affect employee pay and benefits. Missed medical appointments or meetings can be devastating. Students miss sports, music lessons, etc. and Idling vehicles waste gas and money. Those are just a few of the problems related to train traffic on Rt. 2.

On Monday, April 20th, around 3:15 pm traffic was stopped for nearly an hour as a train blocked Rt. 2. Backups on both sides of the tracks were over three miles on the two-lane highway causing gridlock in New Martinsville and frustration clear to the top of 180 and over halfway to Paden City. Once the train had cleared then the fight was on. Traffic lights didn’t mean anything as school buses were now nearly an hour behind, and everyone was rushing to beat the next vehicle.

In West Virginia, there’s a law that prohibits railroad companies from blocking public streets, roads, or highways for more than 10 minutes, except in emergencies or due to circumstances beyond their control. This law, §31-2A-2, applies unless a municipality has its own ordinance governing blocked crossings.

However, it’s unclear how effectively this law is enforced, especially in cases where the buck has been passed for the past 75 years.

If you’re fed up, you might want to file a complaint with the West Virginia Public Service Commission.

You can file a complaint with the (PSC) online or by phone (1-800-642-8544). They oversee railroad safety and crossings in WV.

You can also contact your state representatives.