As a community service, the Rec Centers is sharing the following statement from PORA about the proposed BNSF project.
The PORA BNSF Committee has prepared a list of concerns related to the huge proposed railroad project near Wittmann, AZ, a mere 15 miles from Sun City West. Please read and note how you may be affected by this project.
Opposition to the proposal may be voiced via petitions available at the PORA office, 13815 W. Camino del Sol.
BNSF Intermodal Hub – Key Community Concerns
Project Overview
- BNSF has purchased 4,400 acres of Arizona State Trust land near Wittmann, currently zoned RU-43 (rural residential), not industrial.
- The project would be the largest intermodal hub in the U.S., covering over 4,300 acres and costing more than $3 billion.
- Requires zoning changes from Maricopa County that conflict with existing land use protections.
- The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on the rezoning on August 20th, 2025.
Infrastructure & Traffic Overload
- Projected to generate 22,000+ vehicle trips per day on highways 303, 60, SR 74, and 211th Ave.
- Roads in the area are already in poor condition with minimal maintenance.
- Local infrastructure is not designed to handle heavy freight traffic.
Public Health & Safety Risks
- Many residents rely on well water, which is vulnerable to diesel and chemical spills.
- No known emergency response plan from BNSF for environmental disasters.
- Notable incidents:
- – 2023 East Palestine, OH train derailment
- – 2024 Rose Fire (caused by BNSF maintenance) destroyed 15 structures
Environmental Impact
- 18 million ft. of concrete will disrupt natural drainage and increase flood risks during monsoon season.
- No plan to address the heat island effect.
- Air Quality Index is already deteriorating—diesel emissions and truck traffic will make it worse.
- Constant industrial lighting threatens:
- – Dark skies
- – Wildlife (pygmy owls, native bats, migratory birds)
- – Native vegetation (e.g., saguaro cacti)
Community & Lifestyle Degradation
- 90-foot warehouses will permanently block scenic views and rural character.
- Increased noise, vibration, and light pollution will impact quality of life, wildlife, and livestock.
- Elderly communities (e.g., Sun City West) face added respiratory health risks.
School & Child Safety Concerns
- Located near Nadaburg Elementary School—raising concerns about:
- – Noise exposure
- – Air pollution
- – Truck traffic endangering children
Call for Responsible Planning
- BNSF is the “cost causer” and should bear the full financial burden—not taxpayers.
- Maricopa County must require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a project of this scale.
- Alternative, industrial-zoned sites closer to interstate infrastructure are more appropriate.
- Current plan risks the health, safety, and character of communities across the West Valley and Valley of the Sun.
Due to the proposed risks and environmental impacts, I vote this BNSF terminal be built much further out into the desert….all by itself.
Sad to see this monster invading our quiet, beautiful community! Grand traffic is already a nightmare in the winter months. Disgusting.
Nothing better than a railroad. Certainly twoooinions should be allowed. Odors from truck fuel will be reduced.
Wittman is plenty far away.
This is unacceptable for the size and complexity of use. Too close to population in west valley. Please Maricopa can you just say no? For once? Let the railroad find another less destructive location in the US. Vote NO on this one!
Do you have an online petition for SCW snowbirds that cannot at this time go to Pora to sign?
You can go to the PORA enews and print a petition letter. This can be printed and sent to legislators (or copied and pasted if you are emailing). The legislators contact information is there as well. Remember to put your name and address on any correspondence.
We live fairly close to the 303. The noise from the increased traffic would change the whole character of our neighborhood. We already have a hwy billboard obstructing ou sky view. Please, please vote no this BSNF project. The environmental impact on our air alone makes this highly undesirable to an aging retirement community. Our traffic in the area is growing more congested daily without add to the predicted, extra 22,000 vehicle trips daily on our area highways. The heat island effect will make the NW valley an unbearable place to live and cause increased utlility bills for cooling as well as stress HVAC systems. Move it out further away from residential areas. This will negatively impact our quality of life in Sun City West
This is not beneficial to this area. Water supply must be protected. Maricopa County must stop this unnecessary waste of resources in this area.
I support this project.
Why?
Why not. Trump wants trains, we need trains and there will be trains.
We need progress and reduce truck odor and traffic with trains and lots of them. Flagstaff has no problems with their train traffic.
NO NO ABSOLUTELY NOT
Current BNSF WATER CONSUMPTION rate is 1.6 billion gallons per day. The vehicular traffic number misses by thousands the number likely to be associated with that facility based on BNSF own employee numbers.
BNSF proposed project near Sun City West AZ and nearer to Wittman AZ should not be approved by Maricopa County. A full scale ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT should be completed even before the County considers voting.
Question to the RCSCW: PORA has published its letter of opposition to this BNSF project: “100% opposed”. Why will the RCSCW not publish that letter? Has PORA failed to forward it to the R SCW, or has the RecCtr refused to publish it?
I find it irresponsible for PORA to come out in opposition and not back up CLAIMS with FACTS. NOT ONE impact study has been released, and the process is in the very early stages. These “Key Community Concerns” are the same CLAIMS that are being used to instill fear.
There was a woman representing PORA with the “opposition” petition at the pickleball courts this AM, and the gullible and fearful were signing like crazy. Why would you make a blanket “we are opposed” statement before information is known?
You clearly don’t know how to use the Internet, lady. A quick Google search on the matter will lead you the MULTITUDE of environmental studies on the BNSF Hobart Railyard in LA.
LA is NOT Wittman.
Do you live in Wittmann? well I do this town is mostly made up of horse people, ranches, livestock ,ropers . Wickenburg which is the roping capital of the WORLD relies a great deal on revenue that the ropers bring to this area every year and simply If this thing is built here THE ROPERS WON’T COME. US 60 AND SR 74 are both scenic corridors not to mention they plan to build this thing right on top of the floodplain, where the heck do they think that water will go? WE DON’T WANT NOR NEED IT IN WITTMANN.
Farmers and trains go together. Trains are the backbone to America,Trump wants trains , we need trains and there will be trains.
Let’s not forget the people of Witmann. This facility will surround the town on three sides, completely destroying their current way of life. What a traffic nightmare this will cause. The state of AZ should never have even entertained the idea of this facility at this location.
Please Maricopa county say “NO”…..
Nothing good can come from this that would benefit the residents in this entire area! Common sense, please.
This is a disaster all the way around. NO
It’s a bad idea. Because of its size and anticipated traffic it should be located away from population centers. Out by the new semiconductor plant north of the city would be better.
This will certainly have a negative impact on Sun Cities communities and new residential areas. I see nothing but a negative and nothing positive for the communities that will be impacted. There is so much desert further out where this could be built if it is necessary to be built at all.
Contact Debbie Lesko before the Aug.20 meeting of the Board of Supervisors to urge her to vote NO on “a Major Comprehensive Plan Amendment and a rezoning request that would pave the way for the project” for BNSF.
Contact for Debbie Lesko is Maricopa.gov/ContactLesko
If by some catastrophe this project is approved, how will homeowners be compensated for loss in property value?
Why do you think that SCW properties will be devalued from a large infrastructure project 15 miles away? Have you seen the property values around the Scottsdale Airpark?
Would also like to see an online petition that snowbirds can complete and submit.
PORA raised a lot of legitimate points in opposition to the proposed BSNF project but unfortunately missed the most critical reason Maricopa County will more than likely vote yes for rezoning. The amount of tax revenue that will be generated from this development will most likely far exceed what would be available from home owners who might live there SOMEDAY if ever. We all want the services provided by the County but when it comes to paying higher taxes, we all complain when the proposal calls for NIMBY. Although I personally oppose the project primarily for reasons of congestion, I understand why the County will say yes.
Increased traffic on the surrounding roads will cause more detrimental effects for SCW, Wittman, and Surprise residents. This area is designated for residential rural purposes and should remain so. Allowing a change in zoning harms our property values, brings unwanted traffic congestion, air and noise pollution, and other negative effects that were not envisioned or wanted by current residents in the area.
There are petitions at Change.org with information on this. Search BSNF, read, and sign the petitions if you choose. There are three petitions from 2025.
Please widely share the info about Change.org. Anyone can sign the petitions, you don’t have to live here.
Showing a big response on Change.org against this huge BSNF hub may help sway officials who will vote on the rezoning needed for it to go forward.
Fits right in with all the development that Surprise is doing…growth in this part of the county is just what the local township committees are promoting. From past experience…decisions have already been made and all the comments are allowed so community members can say they tried. Probably a lost battle already. Doesn’t hurt to try.
$$$$$ is what makes this happen and that’s why it’s super hard to stop. But I am against it and will sign the petition. I agree it should be farther out in the country if it’s going to happen.
I wish the location was further from residential areas.
this project will change the lives of the people in communities near it. The traffic, damage to the environment, noise and pollution etc. There is nothing positive to come out of this for residents. Vote NO
The BSNF will destroy Wittman’s quiet rural way of life, not to mention that 60 is overloaded already with traffic, this once quiet peaceful area, including NCC and Asante, will forever be changed and not for the good, what will happen to Dillions western trails and rodeo, the wild life who are already getting pushed out of their environment for the sake of progress, A Healthy environment will forever be put in jeopardy, there are so many other places they could go. we live here; have homes here, this should be a huge no Debbie Lesko, and the board need to say no
Great idea need for west to east, and east, to west train service once again in the southwest…not to mention greater rail service 9n the need of any type of nation like events, be they storms, accident and/or war related activities worldwide, etc!!!
lower petroleum costs… GAS!!! east bound direct rail from back east and through Texas & New Mexico!!!
This Is a threat to national security. Their customs entry will be at this site so all those tanker cars, and railcars rolling in from mexico & where ever aren’t checked(Vetted) until they reach that intermodal site Ya that’s really comforting to know. They are also saying they will not pay for the road improvements, additions , traffic lights etc. It will be US the tax payers anyone living in Maricopa county who will be paying for it.. They bought that land for pennies on the dollar at a Closed public auction- they were the only bidders. well DUH!