BARSTOW, Calif. — The federal Bureau of Land Management has approved sale of almost 30 acres of public land to BNSF Railway for its planned Barstow International Gateway intermodal and logistics facility.
The Victorville Daily Press reports the land, valued at $98,000, was ruled to be suitable for private sale. The propery is isolated, surrounded by private property, and difficult for the agency to provide public access. The BLM had announced the potential sale and sought public comment last August [see “Government seeks comment …,” Trains News Wire, Aug. 30, 2024].
The planned $1.5 billion, 4,500-acre Barstow International Gateway would include an intermodal facility and warehouses for transloading between domestic and international containers. It would process cargo going to and from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach [see “BNSF to build $1.5 billion facility in Barstow …,” News Wire, Oct. 1, 2022].
I do wonder if this project will make truck traffic to and from LA worse or better.
It is still heavily dependent on the California “No Diesel” law in 2035.
Land and permits can be acquired, but until the ground turns, its still not a sure thing. My guess is that they will get the Trump Administration and FRA to overturn the state law on banning diesel OR California & CARB will give BNSF an intermediate waiver to use ZEV’s from Long Beach/POLA to Barstow and diesels leaving east or arriving west.