County prepares for vote on controversial Wittmann railway project
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Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is preparing for a key vote on a controversial railway project in Wittmann.
State of play: The Nov. 5 upcoming vote aims to amend the county's comprehensive plan, which guides decisions on land use, not to make the zoning change that BNSF Railway needs for its planned Logistics Park Phoenix project.
Why it matters: Regardless, it could be a major test of whether the railroad has the county support it needs to push forward.
Catch up quick: BNSF wants to build a $3.2 billion, 4,320-acre rail hub project in Wittman, an unincorporated community northwest of Surprise on U.S. 60, that would include an intermodal facility where cargo would be offloaded from trains; a park for warehouse and distribution facilities; and a logistics center.
- The railway touts the project as critical to support economic growth.
Driving the news: The supervisors are scheduled to vote on whether to approve the comprehensive plan amendment.
State of play: The proposal has generated fierce opposition, with area residents worried about increased traffic, noise, pollution and other issues that could detrimentally affect the area's rural nature.
- The rail hub would generate an estimated 22,000 vehicle trips daily and 6,600 truck trips.
- The Surprise City Council voted unanimously on Oct. 7 to oppose the project, and nearby homeowners associations and a school district have voiced their objections, too.
- Wittmann residents filed paperwork to begin the process to incorporate as a municipality in an attempt to create more local control.
The intrigue: As the area's supervisor, Debbie Lesko's vote is likely to carry a lot of sway.
- Two weeks ago, Lesko cited traffic as her biggest concern and told Axios if the vote were that day, she'd be a "no."
- Asked Tuesday if that was still the case, she said people would find out Nov. 5.
The other side: In a statement to Axios, BNSF spokesperson Lena Kent said the company is working with state and county transportation officials, Surprise and the Maricopa Association of Governments on plans to mitigate traffic issues.
- She said the project will generate more than 76,000 jobs, nearly $4 billion in labor income and $258 million in state and local tax revenue.
- A coalition of 18 chambers of commerce statewide shared their support for the project.
Yes, but: Even if the county vetoes its overall plans, Lesko said BNSF has federal preemptive rights and can likely still move forward with the intermodal facility without local approval.