BNSF engaged with various sectors of our community. Click each heading to expand and read the results of those discussions.

Healthcare – November 3, 2022

1 – How do you think the BNSF BIG project can benefit Barstow? 

  • This project is positive for Barstow
  • Improved quality of life
  • It will bring more people, more employees, more patients
  • Expected to bring development & retail which will make the community more attractive
  • Will increase revenue in Barstow bringing more people, expansion of services
  • BNSF’s commitment to local hiring is good for Barstow
  • Having more stuff to do will increase ability to recruit additional physicians & staff
  • Additional tax revenue will benefit City programs
  • Can generate funds for more social service programs to prevent/treat homelessness, drug addiction

 

2 – For planning purposes, what information will your organization need to know about this project?

  • In the Barstow area, how many BNSF employees will be added?
  • How many non-BNSF employees are expected?
  • Who will provide medical for BNSF employees? (Currently, United Healthcare)
  • Timeline of construction for project including tracks, warehouses etc.
  • Estimate of population growth
  • What is the plan for increasing housing?

 

3 – What current Barstow facilities/programs/activities should be expanded or improved?

  • Current BNSF facility stays the same, BIG is a new addition
  • Promote Barstow as Healthy Community – promote healthy lifestyles with walking trails, food options etc.
  • Need more family services providers – OBGYN, pre-natal care & pediatrics
  • Need to build new modern medical offices, may need to expand ER
  • Additional onsite helipad
  • Increase Industrial medicine (job-related injury, pre-employment) sites (BNSF to consider providing an industrial medicine/urgent care office onsite at new BNSF facility for use by current medical providers)
  • Additional public safety personnel & medical facilities with helicopter pad
  • Need more housing (City expects 4,000 + units including single and multi-family)
  • Want a Nursing school
  • Work to lower crime rate
  • Expand mental health, homeless services, addiction prevention/treatment
  • Ambulance capacity needs to expand
  • Will need more first responders, EMS, CHP, Sheriff, Dispatchers
  • Want more (current) County health data

 

4- Do you have any concerns about the project?

  • Group wants to stay local and not add Kaiser which is out of the area
  • Will this have any impact on MCLB, Ft Irwin?
  • Do we have enough water to support this project? To support population growth?
  • Will this impact Helendale with increased train traffic?
  • Will Hinkley Road need a grade separation?
  • Will this increase local vehicle traffic? Want to see local and County traffic counts

Real Estate - November 30, 2022

1 – How do you think the BNSF BIG project can benefit Barstow? 

  • Local jobs for our kids
  • Livable wages
  • Training for young adults, retention of youth
  • Improved infrastructures, transportation
  • Increased retail and new homes but still affordable living
  • Improved schools
  • Increased revenue
  • Raising the bar for entire High Desert
  • Reduced percentage of welfare

2 – For planning purposes, what information will your organization need to know about this project?

  • Percentage of direct and indirect jobs in Barstow
  • How is BNSF partnering with the community
  • Will the City keep the west-end industrial

3 – What current Barstow facilities/programs/activities should be expanded or improved?

  • Build more houses
  • Incentives for homebuilders and home buyers, ie buy points to reduce interest rate, money towards down payment, waived/reduced fees for building & school fees
  • New schools
  • Expand hospital
  • May need to implement Mello-Roos fees and Homeowner Association fees
  • High end housing amenities
  • Code enforcement
  • Beautification – Main Street
  • Stimulate investment into Opportunity Zones
  • Improve Parks
  • Restaurants
  • Entertainment
  • Sharing the positives about Barstow, need better marketing
  • Stay business friendly

4- Do you have any concerns about the project?

  • Explosion of prices, land homes businesses – how do we control that
  • High interest rates will inhibit home sales
  • Barstow already has a demand/need for more housing
  • Could see an uncontrolled development explosion – aim for sustainability
  • California isn’t business friendly
  • Don’t expect BNSF to fix everything – don’t get greedy

Education - December 7, 2022

1 – How do you think the BNSF BIG project can benefit Barstow?

  • Improve local economy, retail, additional purchasing power
  • Invigorate hometown spirit (railroad history)
  • College expansion, new programs for study, new instructors, equipment, improve
  • Expand recruitment of college staff and students
  • Catalyst for revitalization
  • More investors for a variety of projects
  • Increase collaboration opportunities
  • Will give Barstow national recognition
  • Expand on college’s best practices for new and expanded programs
  • Increase population growth bringing new workforce, new families
  • Help retain our young people
  • Give hope to our young people
  • Bring more members to our churches
  • Create pathway for youth to stay in Barstow, education to training to workforce
  • Increase in dollars from new employees and visitors which means increased revenue for businesses
  • Catalyst for community beautification and home improvements
  • Positive change in perception of Barstow
  • Will improve housing market

2 – For planning purposes, what information will your organization need to know about this project?

  • Need projected growth numbers to revise school facility plans
  • Timing of project
  • Demographics, age and interests of employees
  • Type of education/training needed to qualify for new jobs
  • Job descriptions for positions at BNSF
  • Demographics of new employees – Will they have families? Ages of children?
  • Who are we trying to attract
  • What do future employees want

3 – What current Barstow facilities/programs/activities should be expanded or improved?

  • Add new schools
  • Expect if we double population we need to double number of schools
  • Review/update current facility plans for all schools (share plans with City)
  • Will need modular school facilities until construction is done
  • Have Developer construction new schools with input from school personnel (faster process)
  • Look into sharing facilities
  • Share resources when possible – especially technology
  • Realize technology can reduce/replace capital invest
  • More cultural events/arts to improve quality of life
  • Expand/promote programs at college Performing Arts Center
  • Promote Barstow’s (pre K through college) philosophy of ‘equitable outcomes” (inclusion)
  • Childcare
  • Better community promotion, better school promotion
  • Need collaboration between all school & college PIOs
  • Currently have a teacher shortage
  • Expand Internships
  • Promote curriculum alignment
  • Make more attractive gateways into Barstow
  • BUSD/BCC can collaborate art departments for murals, sculptures etc. to display in public spaces
  • Design to make Barstow a more livable community

4- Do you have any concerns about the project?

  • Where will we get money to build schools
  • Bond possibility for Barstow college
  • Address urban sprawl

Homelessness - December 14, 2023

1 – How do you think the BNSF BIG project can benefit Barstow? 

  • Job creation with more livable wage jobs
  • Businesses expansion
  • Expanded education & internship opportunities
  • General growth
  • Attract developers
  • More places to shop
  • More restaurants
  • Increased revenue for city
  • Better image
  • Higher standard of living
  • Increase property value
  • Revenue, county, city, schools
  • Positive name recognition
  • Additional union jobs during construction and after
  • Increased train tourism

2 – For planning purposes, what information will your organization need to know about this project?

  • How many new jobs will be local
  • How many jobs will be temporary vs. permanent
  • How housing be provided for temp workers (Hotels or?)
  • What kind of skill sets will be needed for new employees (BNSF hires)

3 – What current Barstow facilities/programs/activities should be expanded, improved or added?

  • Barstow services currently centrally located for current small population
  • Need to identify central location for Homeless service center and plan satellite locations
  • Barstow homeless services coordinator
  • Substance abuse programs
  • Mental health facilities, counseling, services
  • Need homeless services plan city wide
  • Transportation opportunities for homeless and those in need
  • Navigation center
  • Emergency shelters/beds (based on Point in Time count)
  • Low-cost housing, affordable housing
  • Services for kids and families
  • Neighborhood congregational places
  • Neighbor Community centers, childcare
  • Variety of shelter opportunities, tents, singles, to families,
  • Counselors/ case workers
  • City needs to establish laws related to homeless and enforce them (public right-of-way)
  • Realize needs for different type of beds (low barrier vs. target groups)
  • Address situational homeless (lost house, lost job, got divorced, cannot
  • afford first and last, home sold)
  • Look at homeless prevention programs
  • Prioritize those that want help (How many homeless would go to bed if there was one?)
  • Additional grant funding
  • Building relationships with each-other, local, county, state, BNSF, businesses
  • Clearing encampments

4- Do you have any concerns about the project?

  • How will City address infrastructure needs
  • Cost of living increase
  • Communities east of Barstow will have increase wait time at crossings
  • Want to keep Barstow’s small-town feel
  • Think through Circulation/Transportation element
  • Environmental impacts need to be addressed

Small Business - January 23, 2023

1- How do you think the BNSF BIG project can benefit Barstow? 

  • More living wage jobs
  • National recognition
  • More people
  • Improve income level of our residents
  • Better education, schools
  • Will help keep money in Barstow
  • New homes
  • Increased property values

2 – For planning purposes, what information will your organization need to know about this project?

  • Will the 20,000 jobs be permanent? How will they be distributed?
  • Timeline
  • Is current BNSF machine shop going to Arizona? (No per Lena)
  • Will the majority of the new facility (warehousing) be automated?
  • How many warehouses will there be? Total square footage?
  • Will traffic flow change??
  • How many trucks will this project take off the 15 freeway?
  • Can BNSF do business with local small businesses?
  • What equipment/products will they use that can be purchased locally?
  • When will we know that the project is for sure a go? After environmental review, plan approval or?

3 – What current Barstow facilities/programs/activities should be expanded or improved?

  • More things for kids like roller rink, bowling etc.
  • City needs a Small business liaison
  • More trade schools
  • Encourage local purchases by BNSF when possible
  • More after school programs for kids
  • Can BNSF help schools pay for auto shop, welding classes?
  • Clean up Barstow
  • Address Homeless problem
  • Offer Drug counseling
  • Spread knowledge of existing (assistance) programs
  • Better public relations
  • Train museum, train focus
  • Capitalize on freeways
  • Regular meetings between government and citizens
  • Capitalize on history, mines, rail, route 66

4- Do you have any concerns about the project?

  • How will Barstow handle more traffic?
  • Are there enough employees?
  • How can small businesses compete with wages of BNSF?

Lenwood - February 2, 2023

1 – How do you think the BNSF BIG project can benefit Barstow? 

  • More living wage sustainable jobs
  • More housing
  • Improved schools
  • Attract more businesses
  • Local hires
  • Keep our kids here
  • Many jobs won’t require college degree
  • Spend money locally
  • Stabilize our community
  • Positive growth
  • Improve Barstow’s appearance
  • Less poverty
  • Less homeless

2 – What information do you want to know about this project?

  • Post local bidding information and opportunities
  • Is the City of Barstow prepared for the growth
  • Is public safety ready
  • Will BNSF hire veterans
  • How do we fund these infrastructure projects in advance

3 – What current Barstow facilities/programs/activities should be expanded or improved?

  • What needs to be added?
  • Jobs training program
  • Local technical training
  • Street maintenance
  • Positive representation of good things in Barstow
  • Share information with business community
  • Should Santa Fe build housing?

4- Do you have any concerns about the project?

  • Don’t’ become like Victorville/Hesperia
  • Will there be more truck traffic on freeway
  • Will this increase local traffic especially on the old road between Barstow and Helendale
  • Employees won’t live here

MCLB - February 5, 2023

1 – How do you think the BNSF BIG project can benefit Barstow? 

  • Future jobs
  • Increase in housing
  • Increase labor pool
  • More logistics focus will attract more logistics workers
  • More people will move here to work
  • Financial benefit for the area

2 – What information do you want to know about this project?

  • Will this change railroad infrastructure alameda corridor to Barstow
  • Will this increase train traffic
  • Does BNSF plan to add more lines east of Barstow
  • What percentage of jobs are local
  • How will this project affect local housing
  • Is City infrastructure ready for project

3 – What current Barstow facilities/programs/activities should be expanded or improved? What needs to be added?

  • Expand Skill Bridge (veteran hiring program)
  • Anti-terrorist training
  • Partnerships for training, security, opportunities for equipment sharing
  • Circulation plans
  • More entry level housing for young marines/soldiers
  • More upper end housing for higher ranking military
  • MOU for Barstow to take over MCLB sewer
  • Utilize DRECP grants for sewer improvements
  • Use Scalia definition of waters of the US
  • Public safety training with hazardous materials

4- Do you have any concerns about the project?

  • Barstow becomes a bigger security target as a major logistic hub
  • Maintain space buffer around MCLB (sound, wildlife etc.)

Youth Sports - February 15, 2023

1 – How do you think the BNSF BIG project can benefit Barstow? 

  • Fantastic for bringing jobs
  • New businesses
  • Increase revenue for city
  • Increase enrollment for schools
  • Bring new families
  • Improved housing market
  • Bring in new volunteers
  • Huge opportunity for kids to stay in Barstow 

2 – What information do you want to know about this project?

  • This group had no additional questions.

 3 – What current Barstow facilities/programs/activities should be expanded or improved? What needs to be added?

  • Maintain and improve existing parks
  • Add more Park & Rec staff
  • More parks with ball field size areas
  • More designated practice fields/areas for all sports (baseball, softball, soccer, football)
  • Pitching machine
  • Designated softball fields
  • Build a Football stadium
  • Improve trust between youth sports advocates and city
  • Need better communication between city and youth sports
  • Build a soccer complex with 8 to 10 fields with turf
  • Expand after school programs
  • Summer programs for youth
  • Lights on fields
  • Make best fields possible so down the hill wants to come here
  • Daycare & childcare facilities

4 – Do you have concerns about this project?

  • Will the existing community support the project

Silver Valley (Newberry Springs, Daggett & Yermo) - February 23, 2023

1 – How do you think the BNSF BIG project can benefit Silver Valley? 

  • More jobs
  • Economic Development
  • More students, improved schools
  • Increased housing
  • Increased property value
  • More revenue for area (County)
  • Hopefully more deputies for Silver Valley

2 – What information do you want to know about this project?

  • Will this increase train traffic in our area? (during and/or after construction)
  • Can we get grade separations/ Who is responsible for these
  • Does the Barstow have a Master Plan for the growth that will occur in the city
  • Will BNSF provide derailment/hazmat training to our fire & sheriff personnel
  • Will this change where/how many idle trains are parked in our area
  • Request BNSF provide planning and construction updates to community

3 – What current Silver Valley facilities/programs/activities should be expanded or improved? What needs to be added?

  • Need better communication between County regarding planning for growth in Silver Valley
  • How will County handle population growth in this area
  • Need a master plan for Silver Valley
  • Daggett would like gather railroad items to promote railroad history (1860 rail station) to tourists
  • Need coordination to go after more grants to help improve all three communities

4- Do you have any concerns about the project?

  • Decrease the water available to our region
  • Increase in vehicle traffic
  • More train traffic
  • More air pollution/dust

Ministerial - March 30th, 2023

1 – How do you think the BNSF BIG project can benefit Barstow? 

  • Redefine who we are as community
  • Positive economic impact
  • Expand demographics
  • Positive for ministry
  • Opportunities to support (minister to) local families
  • Allows perspective of hope for students to stay in Barstow
  • Have future in Barstow
  • Positive growth
  • Great opportunities
  • Modernize our City
  • Can work to prepare to minister to incoming people
  • This project will push us to improve communication throughout community

 

2 – What information do you want to know about this project?

  • Timeline
  • Percent direct verses indirect jobs
  • Detail of design layout
  • Will it be patrolled by BNSF police security 

 

3 – What current Barstow facilities/programs/activities should be expanded or improved? What needs to be added?

  • Massive upgrade in school facilities
  • High school and school district work with local businesses (job training programs)
  • Christian counselor programs
  • Safe community and family activities, programs
  • Better communication between city government and churches on events
  • Drug rehab programs and transitional housing
  • More parks, improve parks
  • Walking trails
  • Splash Park

 

4- Do you have any concerns about the project?

  • No comments received.

Seniors & Veterans - April 4, 2023

1 – How do you think the BNSF BIG project can benefit Barstow? 

  • Will help entire high desert
  • Reduce truck traffic on I-15
  • Increase population
  • Create jobs
  • Bring more cultural activities to Barstow
  • More shopping opportunities
  • Increase recreational activities
  • Bring more medical doctors/specialists

2 – What information do you want to know about this project?

  • How many permanent jobs in Barstow area
  • Will more tracks be added & updated

3 – What current Barstow facilities/programs/activities should be expanded or improved? What needs to be added?

  • More specialty doctors
  • Increase vocational training
  • Increased housing for homeless
  • Expand senior center and nutrition program
  • Recreational opportunities
  • Hiking/walking trails
  • More senior day trips
  • Lower cost buses
  • Bowling alley
  • Expand bus service within city as well as to county areas (including Victor Valley)
  • Regular trips to VA services in Victorville & San Bernardino
  • Expand bus service hours to later in the evening
  • Add Shuttle service
  • More Senior housing
  • Privately operated senior housing (some gated options)
  • More Rehabilitation and Convalescent facilities
  • Look in Senior Access Transportation Program (like in Los Angeles)

4- Do you have any concerns about the project?

  • Will Barstow need to increase emergency personnel
  • Will this increase the number of trains and train noise
  • Safety – prevent derailments

Students - April 5, 2023

 

1 – How do you think the BNSF BIG project can benefit Barstow? 

  • More money for the community, businesses, schools
  • Promote growth
  • Increase population
  • More job options

 

2 – What information do you want to know about this project?

  • (No one requested any additional information)

 

3 – What current Barstow facilities/programs/activities should be expanded or improved? What needs to be added?

  • Job training
  • Bowling alley
  • More shopping
  • Indoor pool
  • More sports
  • Safe places & activities youth
  • Target
  • Chick fil A
  • Air soft
  • Trampoline park
  • Arcade
  • More Basketball courts – outdoor & indoor
  • Better parks
  • Best Buy
  • Costco
  • Good indoor mall
  • Reduce number of crack heads and tweakers by offering them help
  • Too many smoke shops
  • Homeless shelter
  • Rehab centers
  • New houses

 

4- Do you have any concerns about the project?

  • Environmental impacts
  • Employees may not want to live here

Fort Irwin - April 6, 2023

1 – How do you think the BNSF BIG project can benefit Barstow? 

  • Increase population
  • Increase job applicants
  • Improve schools
  • Shared school facilities
  • More quality housing
  • Increase revenues
  • More youth sport teams

 

2 – What information do you want to know about this project?

  • How are you expanding the electrical grid
  • Explore opportunities for collaboration between the Army & the BIG project

 

3 – What current Barstow facilities/programs/activities should be expanded or improved? What needs to be added?

  • Rail spur
  • Shared CTE training
  • Chick fil a
  • Higher end shopping
  • Target
  • Trader Joes
  • Dave & Busters
  • Medical Specialties
  • Dental
  • Maintain Mannix Trail (Railroad siding)
  • More public transportation with later operating hours
  • Expand childcare

 

4- Do you have any concerns about the project?

  • Labor
  • Housing construction lag/shortage
  • Power shortages
  • More homeless
  • Derailments