BNSF to Develop New Logistics Hub in Phoenix
Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
(BNSF photo)
BNSF Railway recently announced continued plans to develop a new regional rail-served facility on approximately 4,321 acres in northwest Maricopa County near Phoenix, Ariz.
The development, BNSF says, will be a master-planned logistics hub that will accommodate the transportation, storage, and distribution of goods and materials throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area and the greater southwest. It’s designed to “respond to the dynamic and rapidly changing needs of BNSF’s customer base efficiently and sustainably, offering streamlined supply chain solutions,” according to the Class I.
According to BNSF, the proposed plans include the following three “distinct, yet interrelated” components:
- An intermodal facility on 1,770 acres, which will serve as a transfer hub for rail shipments via standardized containers and trailers.
- A logistics park on 1,420 acres, which will provide sites for state-of-the-art warehouse and distribution facilities.
- A logistics center on 1,131 acres, which will provide direct-rail-served sites supporting local industry.
The facility, BNSF says, will tie into the existing rail network “to optimize supply chain operations, allowing for the efficient movement of goods and materials via rail, while also reducing environmental impacts and supporting current and future growth.” The project, the Class I adds, “will generate significant jobs and promote economic development by allowing businesses to co-locate together.”
“As BNSF and the customers we serve adapt to shifting marketplace needs, evolving supply chains, and significant technological advancements, we identified a need for additional rail capacity in the Phoenix metro area,” said Vice President of Service Design Jon Gabriel. “Arizona is an important region to expand and advance our intermodal network capacity. This is a long-term investment and commitment to our customers and consumers in Arizona and beyond.”
The combined facilities provide the opportunity to reduce trucking distances in the region, which, BNSF says, “will reduce air emissions, highway and road maintenance costs, and improve highway and road safety.”
Given the regional importance of the project, BNSF will be working closely with Maricopa County, neighboring municipalities, and regional stakeholders over the coming months.
