News Releases for March 2006
March 9, 2006
For further information, please Contact the Governor's Office
Hoeven Announces New BNSF Fueling Facility And Car Shop In Minot
ND Rail Freight Service Area 
(270kb pdf)
MINOT, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today was joined by Mayor Curt Zimbelman, officials of the Minot Area Development Corp. and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway to announce an investment of more than $20 million in Minot for a new fueling facility. The company will in addition make a significant investment in a new rail car repair shop in the city. The new facilities will create up to 50 new jobs in the community.
Joining Hoeven for the announcement were Minot Area Development Corp. (MADC) President Jerry Chavez, MADC Chair Kathy Gaddie, and BNSF Executive Vice President Jeffrey R. Moreland, Assistant Vice President Charles W. Shewmake, and Legislative Counsel Brian Sweeney.
“We appreciate BNSF’s investment in Minot to establish both a refueling facility and maintenance facility,” Hoeven said. “When completed, the investment in the fueling facility alone will exceed $20 million and there would be significant additional investments for the mechanical facility. In addition to the construction activity these facilities will create 35 - 50 jobs in the Minot area.”
“The new mainline fueling facility and the new rail car shop represent significant investments in BNSF’s future in Minot,” said Jeff Moreland, BNSF Executive Vice President Law and Government Affairs.
Mayor Curt Zimbelman said, “The Governor’s Office was instrumental in getting this project moving, and they have supported us all the way. We really appreciate that support.”
The new fueling facility will be constructed near Gavin Yard on property that is already owned by BNSF. The company plans to begin engineering and permitting work for the proposed expansion projects by 2006. In 2005 BNSF added more than 100 jobs in North Dakota and now employs nearly 1600 people in the state.
According to company officials, Minot is a convergence point for two mainlines on BNSF’s Northern Tier and a natural location to service the record volumes of rail traffic moving through this corridor. BNSF trains passing through Minot each day would be serviced at the new fueling facility which will provide fuel, traction sand, lube oil and water.
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