Wittmann Residents Rally Against BNSF's Controversial Rail Facility

In the peaceful town of Wittmann, Arizona, a proposed rail facility project by BNSF Railway has sparked significant controversy among residents. The initiative, named Logistics Park Phoenix, aims to develop a 4,320-acre site with a budget of $3.2 billion. However, local inhabitants, numbering around 600, are concerned about the potential impact on their tranquil community.

The BNSF project was first announced in 2024, intending to accommodate the growing needs for freight transportation. Laura Deaver, a Wittmann resident, remarked on the proposed changes, stating, “This is the safest, most intimate community you could find. Now imagine 15,000 semis coming off of that road you just drove in on.” This sentiment reflects the alarm many locals feel about the increase in traffic and disruption to their daily lives.

Community Outcry at Supervisors Meeting

On November 5, 2025, a Maricopa County Board of Supervisors meeting drew a substantial crowd of Wittmann residents voicing their objections against an amendment that would permit part of the land’s development. BNSF originally secured land along Grand Avenue in 2004 and expanded it significantly by 2022 in response to heightened freight demands.

Complicating matters further, a mapping error during the county’s 2023 White Tank Grand Avenue Area Plan update mistakenly reclassified 840 acres, leading BNSF to seek a zoning amendment to rectify the situation. However, the Board opted to align with residents’ concerns, who remain apprehensive about the impacts of the development.

Environmental Concerns and Local Sentiments

Wittmann residents expressed concerns regarding BNSF’s environmental history, recalling a federal ruling from 2024 that necessitated the railroad to pay $400 million to the Swinomish tribe due to crude oil transportation violations. Additionally, worries over plastic pollution lawsuits have further fueled skepticism about the company’s commitment to environmental safety.

Resident Kirby Anderson acknowledged the necessity for development but suggested that an alternative location might better serve community interests. “Another location may suit all stakeholders better, which BNSF should investigate harder,” he stressed, pointing out the abrupt nature of the current proposal.

Economic Claims Amidst Community Despair

In response to local opposition, BNSF argues that Logistics Park Phoenix could generate approximately 76,000 jobs and enhance logistics capabilities in the region. Susan Demmitt, a representative for BNSF, highlighted the growing population and the accompanying demand for improved transportation infrastructure: “Over time, the population of the region has continued to grow, and with it, the need for expanded transportation and supply-chain infrastructure.”

Despite support from three labor union representatives advocating for the economic advantages, many residents remain unconvinced. Local residents, including Robin Jones and her daughter Kyrie, have actively communicated their discontent, with Kyrie stating, “Dear Board of Supervisors, I don’t like the railroad because I won’t get enough sleep at night.”

As tensions rise, the community of Wittmann, with backing from local leaders and organizations, continues to resist the proposed development. The Board’s recent decision in favor of residents may represent a short-term win, but the future of the rail facility project hangs in the balance as BNSF prepares to determine its next move.

This article first appeared on Cronkite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.