Members, as a community service, we are providing the following information from PORA regarding the BNSF project.
At the request of a PORA Board member, the PORA Board and the PORA-BNSF Committee met on Wednesday, July 30th with several BNSF Railroad officials to exchange information and present a number of concerns from Sun City West residents. For details on this project please visit the PORA website and click on the BNSF Committee link at the top of the page.
PORA has stated opposition to the location of the project but not the concept of the project itself; it is not desired near this populated area of the NW Valley. The Railroad officials presented information to support the project benefits for the NW Valley.
The main objections to the project are related to a large increase in traffic noise, pollution and safety for travel on US 60 (Grand Ave.) and SR 303. Many heavy truck loads travelling on local roadways will lead to additional maintenance problems. Environmental issues include air quality, lighting, water use, flood control, etc. Health issues for nearby residents are a concern. An environmental impact assessment (EIA) is needed.
The BNSF officials noted the original proposal for the project has been modified to improve lighting issues, creation of sound barriers around the property and reduced intersections for truck travel to and from the facility. Newer model locomotives will have fewer emission issues than previous models.
BNSF also noted that while traffic will increase substantially, this increase will not be as severe as the effect from a 4,000 home subdivision on the same property. However, this argument does not consider the traffic from the BNSF facility will consist of a large number of diesel-powered trucks, not residential type vehicles.
PORA countered by noting that there is no subdivision at this time and the only comparison should be with the open desert area currently in place, a negative impact.
For many years the railroad has considered the Wittmann location as one of the best for its future expansion in the Phoenix area. BNSF also noted that their current Glendale facility is now at over capacity because of the rapid growth of the Phoenix area. The Glendale operations will move to the new Wittmann facility. This action will actually reduce rail traffic through the Sun Cities along Grand Avenue.
The single most significant event from this meeting was the statement that BNSF will proceed with the first phase of the project, the 1770-acre Intermodal Facility to receive trains and provide a switchyard, regardless of the zoning decision from the Board of Supervisors. This action is permitted under Federal Preemption Law governing railroad construction operations. These laws preempt state and local laws and date back into the 19th century. Further information on the applicable Federal Laws on this topic will be forthcoming in future postings for the interested reader.
Currently BNSF has asked the Board of Supervisors for a continuance of the hearing to consider the zoning changes to November 5th to work out the Traffic Impact Analysis with ADOT, MCDOT, MAG and the city of Surprise.
Other topics discussed included water use being less than expected, and wastewater treatment to high quality, number of employees, protection of “Dark Skies” initiative, possible hazardous spills, security, crime, building sizes and locations, Nadaburg School and next phases for the project.
For additional information from the railroad, please contact Lena.Kent@BNSF.com and visit porascw.org.
I have read about and responded about this project. I STILL see NO PLANS to deal with the significant access to the Medical complex across the Rail Road Tracks from Grand, at R.H. Johnson and Meeker in Sun City West. With more trans traveling, HOW ARE AMBULANCES and INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE SUPPOSED TO Meet appointments or get to the hospital in an emergency?
I had a worker in SCW state she had to wait 45 minutes for a train to pass one evening before she could continue to go into SCW. That partially illustrates the issue. Are two bridges to be built across Grand to avoid the train traffic to facilitate access to the hospital?
Pretty crazy plan to be pushing through.
I am not in favor of the plans as they stand!
The article notes that with the Glendale BNSF facility moving to Wittman, train traffic will be reduced, so blockage of access to the hospital would be reduced.
The truck traffic and other facility concerns still overshadow benefits to this location.
That is not a true statement. In the Traffic Impact Analysis prepared for this project (prepared by BNSF paid consultants and reviewed by ADOT, Maricopa Co and Surprise engineers), on page 26 it is stated there are 9.6 trains per day running along side Grand Ave, on page 47 it is stated there will be 14.9 trains per day. The Traffic Impact Analysis is posted on the Maricopa Co web page. Look it up.
I certainly hope you are more thoughtful of the local homeowners in this area. We bought not knowing this was coming and because we loved the open spaces. You are ruining our homes and devaluing our properties.
Huge mistake placing this facility in a rural and “expanding ” ural population community! The idea of Surprise expansion up Grand was always communicated as supporting the concept of “residential islands” seperated by desert vs. the typical massive urban sprawl seen in the rest of the west valley. “THIS” is even worse! It will destroy our rural Sonoran desert lifestyle and any future plans Surprise had initially proposed. Who exactly supports this???
What about the increased train traffic trapping us in Sun City West?
Read the above reply about reduced train traffic. It’s in the article.
Unfortunately I dont believe them for a minute that train traffic will decrease. they are using this rhetoric to appease us.
I am 100% against BNSF constructing an intermodal hub anywhere near established rural areas. We have signed letters from LD29 Chair, Lisa Everett saying “NO” to this proposed location in Wittmann.
Please consider another residentially vacant area for your hub.
I certainly hope the homeowners in this area and beyond are able to get their concerns heard. The increased traffic with so many large trucks will be detrimental on the infrastructure.
Please please stop this project. It will affect so many people. Move it up past wickinberg in the desert area
@ PORA
Why weren’t PORA members allowed into the public meeting? Apparently members were turned away when trying to attend.
Will there be minutes published or a video of the meeting provided available to any or all the SCW citizens since we will ALL be effected?
It is my understanding that PORA has a petition available to sign, but one has to physically come in to sign it, making it difficult for the disabled and snowbirds to support your efforts.
Therefore, I signed the original petition which IS available online and has over 3,000 signatures.
Maybe you can join with that petition group so we can have a more powerful effort. Siloing information will not help this community. We need transparency in this important matter.
Thank you for your responses
A Member
It wasn’t a public meeting nor was it ever said to be so. It was a meeting of the PORA committee and BNSF
My husband and myself did fill out the petition at the Posse Office per the newspaper article a few weeks ago. I sure hope these are forward to the proper people. We voted NO NO NO NO
i am against this pos being built despite all bnsf promises. but as we all know money talks and bs walks. maricopa county supervisors are small fish in a big big pond. it will be built. unhappily
We are totally opposed to having BNSF built this hub anywhere near Wittman! We hope and pray the zoning change request is not approved!! There are too many concerns that everyone is aware of. BNSF can only make half or even false promises about taking care of some of the concerns.
Do your part! Contact the BOS and tell them your opinion. Their names and contact info is on the PORA site. There is power in numbers.
Born and raised in AZ. Found my dream home to raise children and grandchildren along with animals. We will all suffer from the traffic and air pollution. A true nightmare.
As a service for snowbirds and others who cannot physically travel to the PORA headquarters to submit a paper copy of the petition, here is a link to an electronic petition that can be submitted online. A donation is not required to sign the petition. There are over 3000 signatures so far…… here is the link…… https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-bnsf-railroad-from-constructing-an-intermodal-hub-in-the-phoenix-west-valley