BNSF Railway is prepared to handle additional volume resulting from shutdown of the Keystone XL Pipeline and uncertainty surrounding the Dakota Access Pipeline. BNSF Regional Ag Development Manager Maia LaSalle says they’re confident in their ability to service the transportation needs in agriculture and believe an efficient infrastructure system is good for the country.
She says after the rail crisis in 2013 and 2014 they spent more than $5 billion to strengthen the rail system all the way to the Pacific Northwest to make sure they could avoid a future meltdown.
LaSalle says that investment is spread across the northern corridor and will allow them to absorb any additional oil traffic and still get ag products to market on a timely basis.
She adds that in 2021 they will be making another investment of nearly $3 billion in the northern corridor.
