BNSF Officially Announces Plans for Intermodal and Railcar Loading Center Near Phoenix

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway has officially announced plans to develop a massive logistics hub on the outskirts of Phoenix.

The project, in the works for several years, is now planned for a 4,321-acre property in northwest Maricopa County, the railroad announced yesterday. The hub, adjacent to the Phoenix Subdivision in Wittmann, Arizona, will accommodate the transportation, storage and distribution of goods and materials throughout the Phoenix area.

It will include a 1,770-acre intermodal terminal, an adjacent 1,420-acre logistics park that will provide sites for warehouse and distribution facilities, and a 1,131-acre logistics center including direct-rail sites that will support local industry.

This rendering shows the design of the proposed BNSF Rail Logistics Center in Wittmann, Arizona, outside of Phoenix. BNSF

This is the first time BNSF has combined a logistics park, which serves intermodal customers, and a logistics center, which are multi-product sites for carload and bulk customers.

BNSF currently operates logistics parks in Chicago, Kansas City and Alliance, Texas. Its logistics centers include operations in Oklahoma City; Sweetwater and Cleveland, Texas; Hudson, Colo.; and Fontana, California.

“As BNSF and the customers we serve adapt to changing market needs, evolving supply chains and significant technological advancements, we have identified a need for additional rail capacity in the Phoenix metro area” , said Jon Gabriel, vice president of service design, in a statement. statement. “Arizona is an important region to expand and advance the capacity of our intermodal network. This is a long-term investment and commitment to our customers and consumers in Arizona and beyond.

BNSF hopes to begin construction on the project next year and is eyeing a first opening date of 2028.

Co-locating warehouses and distribution centers with the intermodal terminal significantly reduces the travel distance for containers and trailers, BNSF says.

BNSF is evaluating whether, after opening a few facilities, it will continue to use its current Phoenix intermodal terminal in Glendale, located 10 rail miles from the center of Arizona’s largest city. Wittmann is 36 rail miles from downtown Phoenix. The Glendale terminal has not yet reached capacity, the railroad says.

BNSF said it will work closely with Maricopa County, neighboring municipalities and regional stakeholders over the coming months in an effort to advance the project through the review and permitting process.

The size of the new logistics center will rival BNSF’s proposed $1.5 billion Barstow International Gateway in California. This facility, which will serve as a sorting and transshipment platform for international containers, covers 4,500 acres.

BNSF has not released a cost estimate for the Phoenix project. It was originally planned for a site in Surprise, Arizona, which sparked local opposition.

Note: Article updated at 2:50 p.m. June 19 with information on the status of the current BNSF Phoenix Intermodal Terminal in Glendale, Arizona.