Next Steps for Review of Massive BSNF Rail Hub

SCHOA Keeping Sun City Informed: Next Steps for Review of Massive Rail Hub
E-notice, July 17, 2025

• About the Proposed Project: BNSF Railway operates the railroad tracks that run through Sun City on Grand Avenue. The company purchased about 800 acres of land in 2004 in Wittmann, an unincorporated community in Maricopa County located just off of Grand Ave./US 60 northwest of Sun City.

Since, they have acquired 3,500 more adjacent acres of land to build what would reportedly become the hub the largest in the nation.

As an 'intermodal' station, it would facilitate the transfer of commerce between trains and semi-trucks which would use local roadways/highways in addition to the railway routes to and from the region.

The Sun City Home Owners Association (SCHOA) Board of Directors has voted to oppose the construction of the new rail hub.

As your advocate, we feel it's important that we share information about this project with our members to empower and inform you.

• Step One: Comprehensive Plan
➡️.Read ALL HERE.

 

It doesn't mention the 4 billion in wages every year. The 258 million in local taxes. That rail is the most environmentally friendly form of cargo transport. The hub will reduce truck traffic, since more will be transported by rail, which will result in lower emissions.

I've heard, but not sure of, that Surprise is thinking annexation.

 

Actually, it will create more truck traffic. Intermodal will be bringing in hundreds of 40’ containers on flatbeds and being delivered to final destination or vice versa. Huge amount of truck traffic will be generated.

 

While I agree with you that truck traffic will increase with the larger BNSF operation is there any credible data that details how much traffic will actually use Grand Avenue through Sun City instead of the loop 303 and other routes?

 

Estimated traffic amounts
Traffic concerns for impacted communities include increased congestion due to the projected additional 7,200+ vehicles per day by end of 2028 and 22,000+ vehicles per day by year 2038 in a facility operating on a 24/7 basis

 

BNSF FAQ's
BNSF has published its own page featuring the project FAQ's

Main page https://bnsflpp.com/

FAQs https://bnsflpp.com/faqs/
There you will find traffic answers and more;

• How does the project benefit traffic?
• What traffic improvements are BNSF making?
• Where are the access points located for the Logistics Park Phoenix?
• How many trucks will be using 211th Avenue?

 

I find myself conflicted by the discussion. Mt dad was an engineer on the Burlington Northern (Northern Pacific back in the day) and i occasionally road the rail with him in the engine to his turnaround (in Staples MN). My guess is that might be frowned on these days.

Anyway, that's not the reason for being conflicted. I have no interest in making this discussion political, but the politics of this country brings me to the brink of questioning; are we even a serious country when it comes to serious weather events (some call it climate control, but lets keep the politics out of it). There is zero question whether serious weather events are increasing in number or strength. Zero.

We just saw a bill passed in congress, the house and the president signed that fairly well ignores the challenges we face across the country. Like green energy or not, every country serious (yes even/especially China) is taking steps to address the challenges we are facing. We decided to kill virtually every aspect of alternative forms of energy development and are dedicating the bulk of resources from this bill back to oil subsidies (more tax relief for an industry that feeds off of the federal government and makes billions of dollars annually). Another topic i have no interest in debating the pros and cons.

While my golf car is electric, i don't have an electric car and in all likelihood, never will. I have solar panels on my roof, because i know it has saved me money. I'm not a wild fanatic of green energy nor am i interested in bashing an industry i rely on to keep our car going. And; last but not least, we are old and not having kids or grand children i have no sense or fear what i am leaving them will be an ugly mess. Sorry for those of you who do.

I do know, our insurance rates are sky-rocketing because of the increasing number of severe weather events and i do know the bill that was just passed will compound them several fold. Knowing that makes me a tiny bit skeptical of whether the impact on having this massive rail hub will make even a tiny bit of difference in the grand scheme of things? I simply don't know other than traffic will get worse (not so much for Sun City, more SCW and the Grand).

I guess the good news is i am open to listening to the logical explanations for being pro or con and then deciding. It's just right now, on a scale of 1-10 the priority for me isn't as high as others.

 

No kids or grands either.
IDK what to think about this.
It's going to happen and we have no control over it.
All one has to do is take a ride on Olive to White Tank park and see the massive developments and buildings there. It used to be such a nice motorcycle ride with beautiful desert landscape, and healthy saguaros on both sides. I am very disappointed at how this area has changed.

Unfortunately, this kind of development is happening all over the country and there is no place safe from catastrophic weather events.
If I think too long about it I feel despair.

And then I remind myself of how my Southern grandma, despite a pandemic, the Great Depression and poverty, an abusive alcoholic spouse, seven children and having to work to keep a roof over all their heads coped with all this with quiet grace.
And the Irish and Italian immigrant ancestors who had nothing and came here for a better life at the turn of the last century and somehow survived and even thrived. I wish I were more like them.

Things are going to get very tough in this country very quickly. I'm already seeing more senior homeless in this area. I think if you have food to eat and a roof over your head you are lucky and you should be grateful. If you have more than you need you should share some with those who don't.

I read somewhere in the past year that the reason we were put on this Earth was to be kind and to take care of each other, especially those less fortunate.

There are many organizations here in our backyards to volunteer with that help people.

Riding in the engine room...lol.

How about tiny toddlers sitting on the arm rests and children laying in the back windows of moving vehicles, not to mention riding in the back of pick up trucks?

 

Bill, I believe I mentioned this before, Dad worked for the railroad for 42 years and was 10th on seniority!

EL, Dad worked nights his entire career because it paid more. Because of this my brothers and I rarely saw him except on his days off which changed almost weekly. In spite of that he provided for us, especially for my youngest brother who was special needs. He taught us at a young age that donating food to the needy, public service of any type and donating money to favorite charities were actions to do for the rest of your life. He also said that if we didn’t do this he would come back from the grave to straighten us out. I also learned at a young age that you do not f**k with a WWII Purple Heart Marine. This is why I started volunteering for committees and served on the Board of Directors and continue to serve that conform to my skill set. Just covering the bases Dad.

To your point Emily, to see the line on Saturday at the food bank at the old Wells Fargo building consisting of seniors, young mothers and others waiting for basic necessities, The richest country 9n the face of the earth and we can’t even feed our own or provide shelter so Larry Ellison can buy another island In Hawaii or Jeff Bezos can hold a divorce party in the French Alps for 200 of his closest hangers on or cutting funding to PBS because Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, Grover and The Count are in cahoots to steal the 2026 midterms with Daniel Tiger for the Democrats. Ken Burns documentaries are somehow communist socialist propaganda.

Am I angry, yes, because this is not me and it is not us as a nation. We are being led over the cliff by an Orange Gasbag who perpetually lies and doesn’t know anything other than where is the nearest golf course and what could be his latest money con for his benefit. I have said this many times with some people agreeing with me, others tell me it’s not true, but if you wonder what living in 1930’s Germany was like, you are living it now. The diehard MAGA supporters are the Brown Shirts, the DOJ Attorney General & FBI are the Gestapo and ICE is the SS. It can’t happen here but you are seeing it.

 

Annnnnnnnddddd he is back!