Barstow leaders rally legislative support to save BNSF’s $1.5 billion railway project

Barstow city leaders traveled to Sacramento to gain legislative support for construction of Burlington Northern Santa Fe's Barstow International Gateway project.

Construction of the $1.5 billion state-of-the-art rail facility is in jeopardy of being halted by a state rule mandating BNSF use “zero-emissions” or all-electric locomotives by 2035.

BNSF Executive Director of Public Affairs Lena Kent said adhering to the rule would be an “impossible” task for the railway company.

Barstow Interim City Manager Andrew Espinoza Jr., Assistant City Manager Kody Tompkins, and City Building Official/Fire Marshal Chris Heldreth traveled to the state capitol. BNSF Railway leadership and Economic Development Advisor Gil Keinan also joined the Barstow team.

Espinoza said the team’s mission was to “keep the pressure” on the California Resources Board and their new rule of all-electric locomotives.

During the 11th annual High Desert Economic and Real Estate Symposium & Forecast , Kent shocked the audience when she shared details about the state’s new rule.

“I hate to tell everybody this, although we’ve been doing our best to test out electric locomotives, we do not have an electric locomotive that works,” Kent said. “It’s an impossible task for us to be able to do.”

After the trip, Espinoza said the response from state officials was “overwhelmingly positive” as the Barstow team “gained a number of allies for our fight.”

Espinoza added that the battle with the California Resources Board is “not completely over but we are gaining ground" and “moving full speed ahead with this project.”

Meeting with state officials

A BNSF spokesperson said the Barstow/BNSF team met with leadership from the following state departments:

• Labor/Workforce Development
• State Treasurer
• Office of Planning and Research and Strategic Growth Council
• State Transportation Authority
• Department of Consumer Affairs and Housing
• Workforce Development Board

Discussed at each meeting:

• BNSF project overview, impact on the community, and current challenges.
• Business diversification with retail, military, mining, and tourism.
• Other upcoming projects such as the Brightline West high-speed rail system and a casino project.
• Requests for assistance to advance housing tracts, infrastructure improvements, and Main Street upgrades.

The city will continue to seek possible programs associated with the project. The city has also invited various state department leaders to Barstow to tour the upcoming project and to have continued conversation on funding sources, according to the BNSF spokesperson.

Battling the California Resources Board

For nearly two months, BNSF officials have asked residents to voice their opposition to the new state rule by telling the United States Environmental Protection Agency to reject the California Resources Board’s approach. The deadline was April 22, the Daily Press reported.

“I want to personally thank all of you who took the time to contact elected officials and CARB to oppose this action,” Espinoza said. “We have heard that CARB's phones have been blowing up with this issue and that comments have been pouring in opposing this action.”

Espinoza added that the Barstow International Gateway project is subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

“As part of this process, on March 13, a CEQA scoping session was held at the Cora Harper Center to receive input on the project,” Espinoza said. “Know that every one of the comments received is currently being reviewed and will be included in the report.”

Barstow International Gateway

Considered the largest rail facility in North America, the Barstow International Gateway will allow the direct transfer of shipping containers from ships at Los Angeles and Long Beach ports to trains for transport through the Alameda Corridor onto the BNSF mainline up to Barstow.

Once containers reach Barstow, they’ll be processed using cargo-handling equipment powered by clean energy, and then staged and built into trains moving east via BNSF’s network across the nation.

Local leaders said a halt to the BNSF project would prevent the influx of new railroad employees and the expected boom in commercial, retail, and home construction.

BNSF officials said the effect of the new state regulation would be devastating in various ways, including:

• The supply chain would suffer without new rail projects that improve efficiency, increasing costs for shippers and consumers.
• It will slow the transition to lower-emission locomotives.
• Highway congestion and emissions will increase because of a shift away from rail.
• The elimination of thousands of well-paying jobs and supply chain efficiencies.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Barstow leaders rally legislative support to save BNSF’s $1.5 billion railway project