WITTMANN, Ariz. — Residents of the unincorporated community of Wittmann are considering cityhood, in part as a response to BNSF’s plans for a $3.2 billion logistics center in the area.
The Arizona Republic reports an incorporation drive is under way as a method of giving the area, about 35 miles northwest of Phoenix, more control over development. The process could take almost a year; after filing paperwork, residents would have 180 days to collect signatures in support of incorporation, and another 180 days to hold an election to approve the process.
But the newspaper reports the impact on BNSF’s plans is uncertain. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, which must approve the BNSF plan, will discuss it in August; a representative of the group pursuing incorporation said residents will likely ask for a board vote to be delayed because of the incorporation effort.
BNSF announced its long-planned logistics hub — including a 1,770-acre intermodal terminal, a 1,420-acre logistics park, and a 1,131 logistics center with rail-served industrial sites — last year [see “BNSF officially announces plans …,” Trains News Wire, June 19, 2024]. On a project website, the railroad says construction would create more than 26,000 jobs, while the completed project would support more than 50,000 jobs and generate more than $245 million in annual tax revenue.
Residents of Wittmann (population 684 as of the 2020 census) and neighboring unincorporated Circle City (population 522) announced their opposition to the project shortly thereafter [see “Residents seek to fight plan …,” News Wire, Aug. 30, 2024].
The Grand Avenue corridor is constantly choked with train traffic around their current intermodal terminal, there are routinely accidents, sometimes fatal, at the numerous angled, highly complex crossings along the route. Slow moving trains routinely block those crossings causing traffic jams.
All of that would be alleviated with this new facility. The increased tax revenue would also help pay for the badly needed 303-60 interchange just south of the location.
Increased traffic on this line could also lead to improvements and/or outright purchase of the ARZC by BNSF which would provide a direct route for Phoenix-LA Amtrak service since UP will never reopen the Wellton branch.
This is a case of the needs of the many outweighing the needs of a few.