BNSF and Hobby Lobby cut ribbon on new OKC intermodal facility

BNSF Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Tom Williams cuts the ribbon at the opening ceremony for BNSF's new intermodal facility in Oklahoma City.

42-acre facility open for business, on track to cut emissions and truck traffic from I-35

FORT WORTH, TEXAS, and OKLAHOMA CITY, Jan. 23, 2026 - BNSF Railway and Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. gathered Thursday to celebrate the opening of the Class I railroad's new Oklahoma City intermodal facility. ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz, Oklahoma City mayor David Holt and other legislative leaders and public-private partners were in attendance to mark the milestone with an official ribbon cutting ceremony.

The 42-acre intermodal facility, which opened Dec. 31, provides more streamlined, cost-efficient options for customer Hobby Lobby. The arts and crafts retailer was looking for a simpler and more economical movement of its loaded containers from the ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach, to the network of Hobby Lobby distribution centers in OKC.

"As the leading rail intermodal provider in North America, BNSF has a relentless passion for growth," said BNSF Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Tom Williams. "In order to be successful, we must take advantage of growth opportunities when we see them for our customers. Expanding into Oklahoma City to offer Hobby Lobby a new, unique solution to its supply chain needs is a chance for us deliver on that promise, and we are excited to watch the success this partnership will bring."

"This is really a new day for Hobby Lobby and our city," said Hobby Lobby Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Jon Cargill. "We are now prepared to bring the items our customers want directly to Oklahoma City, allowing us to supply our stores in a more efficient manner. It also provides the same efficiency to Oklahoma's businesses, expanding access to markets all over the world."

"This facility will be a tremendous asset to the economic infrastructure of our city for years to come," said Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt. "Most of us don't think about the logistical journey taken by the goods we purchase. There are many elements in that journey, and until now, we've not had, in Oklahoma City, the ability to take freight containers off a train at the end of their global journey to OKC. This will complete that infrastructure, which is good for our economy, and it will also remove trucks from our highways. Thank you to BNSF and Hobby Lobby for making it possible."

"The opening of BNSF's intermodal facility in Oklahoma City is a practical investment in Oklahoma's economic future," said ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz. "With Hobby Lobby utilizing the site and future opportunities for farmers and producers to export goods to the West Coast, this project positions our state for continued growth and connectivity."

At its full potential, the facility could eliminate up to 40,000 truck moves off the highway each year, cutting emissions between Dallas Fort-Worth and Oklahoma City.

In the future, Oklahoma farmers and other businesses will have the opportunity to utilize the facility for export to the West Coast.

Contact:
Kendall Kirkham Sloan
Director, External Communications
[email protected]