By Delarita Ford
Mail | X: @AzNewsmedia

A host of public advocates have taken the conductor’s seat to drive information on possible negative impacts the planned BNSF Railway Logistics Park Phoenix project will have on Northwest Valley communities once construction begins some time later this year.

But BNSF Railway officials are providing pushback on an array of what the company said is misinformation about the proposed $3.2 billion, 4,300-acre development planned near 215th Avenue and U.S. 60.

Lena Kent, the BNSF Railway general director of public affairs, said one of the biggest issues is that of truck traffic through the region, and that “the trucks are not going by the school or the residents as some have said.”

That was a concern of a July letter sent by Nadaburg Unified School District Principal Aspasia Angelou, who wrote Maricopa County Board of Supervisor Debbie Lesko encouraging supervisors to reject pending building plans for the intermodal facility across from Nadaburg Elementary School and the district office in Wittmann.

Aiming to protect “hundreds of children in proximity to toxic diesel particulates and idling freight emissions,” Angelou outlined possible dangers posed to children during recess, arrival and dismissal times and outdoor physical education activities.

The principal’s concerns were similar to those of community activists Bud Meador, of Communities Coalition, and Legislative District 29 Precinct Chairperson Lisa Everett, who were making speaking rounds in July to northwest communities bordering train tracks along U.S. 60 including the Sun Cities, Surprise, El Mirage, Wittmann, Morristown, and Wickenburg.

Although Meador and Everett maintained they are not against building the BNSF hub, they want the company to consider more deserted areas for alternative sites instead of near residential neighborhoods. They cited concerns about pollution, potential crime and hazardous materials among their issues.

“People have saved their entire lives to escape the city life to move to Wittmann,” said Everett. “BNSF wants to be right up against them.”
The group and residents also said they were concerned with increased truck traffic, which BNSF officials have said would be less than if the facility isn’t built.

“You did not sign up for this. This is an encroachment,” said Meador, a Sun City West resident who continually updates and researches the BNSF intermodal hub topic for his grassroots movement effort online through “West Valley Government Issues Forum.”

In response to area concerns, Kent noted BNSF keeps strengthening its hazmat safety program with an average of 99.999% of shipments arriving without incident. Various materials and substances will be prohibited from the facility, including chlorinated solvents, recalcitrant industrial-organic solvents, poison by inhalation or toxic by inhalation materials, anhydrous ammonia, and perfluorinated chemicals, including perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanioic acid, known as “forever chemicals” by the U.S. Environmental protection agency that are the subject of increasing regulations.

“BNSF works hard to safely move and deliver products essential to everyday life. Some of the products we carry are hazardous materials, and we give those even greater attention. Under federal law and our common carrier obligation, we can’t prohibit car load hazardous materials shipments on our network,” said Kent, adding the company is focused on preparedness, strict procedures to minimize risk and provide “intense” employee, contractor and ongoing first-responder training.

Kent said BNSF continues collaborating with state, county, and local transportation agencies to finalize the traffic impact analysis for the project, which will determine necessary infrastructure improvements.

Likewise, Kent was asked about emergency situations where people may be inconvenienced and disadvantaged if unable to access the local hospital.

“With regard to access to local hospitals, LPP will reduce train traffic through Sun City West by approximately 40%, improving access at Meeker Boulevard to Banner Del E Webb Medical Center in Sun City West,” Kent said.

She also refuted Everett’s statements made previously about the kind of jobs the train company would bring to the area, noting the average railroad salary and compensation package tops $132,000 a year, allowing BNSF’s workforce to earn 39% more than the average full-time U.S. employee.

BNSF has said the project will bring $4 billion in labor income to the economy and contributing $258 million annually in state and local tax revenues as previously reported.

However, Everett mentioned underpaying warehouse jobs, among other “low-paying jobs at the cost expense of other people’s lives,” workers being replaced by robotics in roles, companies like Amazon with layoffs to downsize. And she said the BNSF rail hub in Glendale will likely move their people to Wittmann, which will take away job opportunities for that area.

BNSF officials did not address the question of jobs moving from the Glendale site.

Delarita Ford
Lead Reporter | Surprise

dford@iniusa.org

Meet Delarita
Delarita Ford originally joined Independent Newspapers Incorporated, now Independent Newsmedia, Inc. USA in 1997, as a general assignment reporter for the Delaware State News daily paper after starting her journalism career in Maryland in 1994, where she honed her skills by writing obituaries, covering community news from births to deaths, education to legislation and more. As a reporter, she has had the opportunity to cover sitting and former U.S. presidential visits in Baltimore, Delaware, and Arizona.

Community: One of the few seasoned journalists who still enjoys covering community events, she can be found with a reporter’s pad taking notes, her phone taking pictures while capturing life’s moments to memorialize them in print for the local newspapers and for the active-adult community where she lives. She maintains a presence with the Black media and the National Association of Black Journalists to encourage peers, socialize, and mentor younger writers.

Education: Life learner who learns from life. Aside from the collegiate education received, she got the best training from on-the-job experience with former editors who went through copy with a red pen and demanded the best writing for hard news and feature stories. 

Random Fact: While a Delaware State News reporter, she could call then Sen. Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, usually late at night if a quote or input was needed for varying topics, including legislation and education.

Hobbies: Adopt rescue dogs and give them a nice home. Continuously read and critique news stories from various platforms.