(The following story by Erin Turner appeared on the Daily News-Sun website on April 16.)
SUN VALLEY, Ariz. — More than 100 residents from various communities in the Northwest Valley filed into an organizational meeting Tuesday intent on mobilizing opposition to the impending BNSF industrial hub near Wittmann.
Sun City West residents and community notables composed the majority of the group, which is led by Sun City West resident Gary Bosak, PORA President Larry Woods and Wittmann residents Jan Dodgen and Sue Dolphin.
The group discussed the need for residents to stay apprised of the Burlington, Northern Santa Fe Railway project, which they say is in elementary stages and may still be prevented from happening in the small town about 10 miles northwest of Sun City Grand.
“It became very clear to me very quickly that we don’t know much of what’s going on here,” Woods said . “And that they aren’t telling us much of what’s going on here.”
Most of the opposition to the 723-acre railyard and distribution center stems from the potential increase in traffic and air pollution, predominantly for communities along Grand Avenue and Loop 303.
“We’re very concerned about pollution, but we won’t have the pollution problem that (Wittmann) would have,” Woods said. “We’re concerned about all this potential traffic.”
Dodgen said BNSF’s original estimate of more than 140,000 vehicle trips per day has been amended to about 10,000 vehicle trips a day, a number she still deems too high.
“I don’t care if it’s 1,000,” she said. “It’s still too many.”
Dolphin discussed HB2156, which has already passed the Arizona House of Representatives and is in the state Senate, as a means to protect communities affected by potential projects. The bill would force railroad companies to provide accurate information about their intended projects.
“HB2156 provides transparency and important information to the public and elected officials by railroad distributors and their plans to locate major railroad construction,” she said. “The people of Arizona and elected officials must have the opportunities to know…(about) any major railroad project.”
The facility is three to five years from inception, BNSF estimates, Bosak said. He suggested that concerned residents should work to stay informed until a plan is finalized.
“This is not a done deal,” Bosak said. “So we have every opportunity to do something about it.”
Information presented at Tuesday’s gathering, including the BNSF proposal and HB2156, is posted on the PORA Web site at www.porascw.org. The Web site www.wittmanncitizens.com, also contains information about the project.