Regarding the letter, BNSF facility could hurt Sun City West quality of life:
BNSF is proud to have been part of Arizona’s history for over a century. From our early days running a rail line to the Grand Canyon to operating the Southern Transcon — one of the busiest freight corridors in the U.S. today — we’ve played a key role in Arizona’s transportation network.
With significant population and economic growth continuing in the Phoenix metro area, one of the most efficient and sustainable ways to transport goods and materials is to rely on rail. Rail is the most effective means of surface transportation. Every train takes 100 or more trucks off the roads.
Logistics Park Phoenix is a $3.2 billion state-of-the-art master-planned project that will bring immediate and long-term economic benefits to the region, including:
• 26,000-plus jobs created during construction
• $1.4 billion in labor income during construction
• 50,000-plus jobs supported annually once completed
• $2.5 billion in annual labor income
• $245 million in annual state and local tax revenue for schools, emergency services and other community needs
We are working with ADOT, MCDOT and the city of Surprise to ensure local and regional transportation and traffic concerns are evaluated in the traffic impact analysis. It’s also important to note that the planned use of the property will create substantially less traffic than if it were developed for more traditional land uses, including residential.
In addition, BNSF is a responsible and sustainable water steward. The site’s water and wastewater infrastructure will comply with all state and local design standards. BNSF intends to minimize water consumption by installing modern fixtures, using responsible landscaping and maximizing its recharge of effluent generated on-site. Prior to drilling, BNSF will undertake a well impact study as required by the Arizona Department of Water Resources to ensure new wells do not impact existing wells in the area.
Arizona is one of the fastest-growing economic hubs in the Southwest. We’re proud to be part of that growth. As a community partner, we’re committed to developing critical infrastructure — like Logistics Park Phoenix — that supports businesses, strengthens supply chains and creates high-paying, sustainable jobs.
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