Reflecting the concerns and opposition of area residents, members of the Surprise City Council have unanimously voted in favor of a resolution opposing plans for a massive Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad hub.
Plans for that hub, which were announced more than a year ago by the railroad company, envision a more than 4,300-acre logistics park some 35 miles to the northwest of Phoenix. Those plans include the building of a terminal spanning some 1,800 acres, as well as both distribution and warehouse facilities.
Altogether, it has been thought that the project will cost around $3.2 billion to complete.
But the size and scope of the proposed hub, not far from the small town of Wittman, have alarmed many who have said the traffic and water use impact would prove all-encompassing.
The resolution approved by the Surprise City Council said that it could not support the project unless it “proceeds in a manner that clearly prioritizes public safety, quality of life, and long-term sustainability for Surprise, its residents, and the residents of the adjacent community.”
The city council vote comes ahead of a meeting of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in early November that may determine the fate of the project.
Earlier this year BNSF said that the railroad hub project is but a piece of a capital investment initiative that is also seeing $2.8 billion being spent on infrastructure investment work, along with another $535 million in expansion and efficiency projects.
October 10, 2025
By Garry Boulard
