BNSF Arizona Rail Project Rejected: Jobs, Investment & Logistics

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Introduction

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors denied BNSF Railway’s request to alter the land designation for a logistics park and intermodal rail facility in Wittmann, Arizona.

Land Designation Rejection

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors rejected BNSF Railway’s request for a land change designation. The proposal, known as the “Intermodal Comprehensive Plan Amendment,” sought to reclassify land north of U.S. 60 between 211th Avenue and 235th Avenue. The change would have shifted the land’s designation from single-family rural to mixed-use employment. BNSF stated that the amendment was intended to correct a mapping error by the county.

BNSF Railway Statement

BNSF issued a statement regarding the decision. The statement indicated that the vote “should have been straightforward and administrative in nature.” It further claimed that “the Board of Supervisors ignored the simplicity of our request and chose politics over smart growth.”

Economic Impact of BNSF Investment

BNSF’s Logistics Park Phoenix (LPP) project represents a $3.2 billion investment. The company projected that the project would create over 76,000 jobs. Furthermore, BNSF estimated that the project would generate $4 billion in labor income and contribute $258 million annually in state and local taxes, earmarked for local infrastructure.

Conclusion

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors rejected BNSF Railway’s proposal to re-designate land in Wittmann, Arizona, for a logistics park and intermodal rail facility. BNSF’s plan included a $3.2 billion investment in the Logistics Park Phoenix (LPP) with the potential to create over 76,000 jobs and generate significant tax revenue.

Company Summary

BNSF Railway: A Class I railroad company.

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