WITTMANN, AZ (AZFamily) — BNSF, one of the nation’s largest railroads, wants to build a new transit hub northwest of Phoenix, but residents fear it could disrupt their quiet lifestyle.

“They are not good neighbors. They will not be good neighbors,” said Elizabeth Oldham, a Circle City resident. “This is our home. We don’t want it destroyed.”

BNSF owns over 4,000 acres of land in an unincorporated area along US 60 near Wittmann and Circle City.

The land is currently zoned as a rural single-family residential area, but BNSF has applied to Maricopa County for a variance to build its transportation hub there.

Local residents expressed concern that the facility would increase pollution, traffic and noise, and disrupt schools, families and wildlife in the area.

“It will completely turn our way of life upside down,” says Patricia Van Eck, who lives in Wittmann.

Van Eck showed Arizona’s family a letter they received from BNSF’s lawyers in late June about plans for the facility near their backyard.

She turned the page and showed a map of the BNSF property. Van Eck pointed to the location of her house, which is near the boundary of the BNSF property.

“I don’t understand why they chose this part of the country with the existing municipality when there is so much land here,” Van Eck said.

Van Eck and Oldham hope their communities stay as they are.

“The county needs to do the right thing for the people who live here, who live in these towns, and not be intimidated by these first-class railroads that cry foul every time you tell them no,” Oldham said.

BNSF issued the following statement to Arizona’s family:

The county is expected to decide on BNSF’s application in a few months.

Oldham said there will be a meeting at Nadaburg Elementary School in Wittmann on September 4 at 6 p.m.

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