I have written many times about the trucking situation at the Long Beach Ports. The authorities have demanded that new truck rigs be bought (to reduce the air pollution), considered mandating the conversion to electronic truck vehicles, etc.
Well, now there is a newer condition- one that will restrict the local drayage trucking companies.. But there will be a few years (2032) before this new plan is fully functional.
As part of the 2021 Federal Infrastructure bill, the Long Beach Ports (part of the San Pedro Bay port district- which also includes the port of Los Angeles) are being awarded some $283 million to develop Pier B, a rail facility project. (The plan has already been awarded some $360 million from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Authority, the California Transportation Commission and the Federal Maritime Administration ) Once completed, the drayage trucks will not be transporting all the cargo they have moved in the past, keeping them off the local roads as well- instead, the new rail facility will be handling it. However, the project’s anticipated cost is $1.6 billion, so a lot more money will need to be authorized to ensure its completion.
The plans call for doubling of the existing rail yard from 82 acres to a reconfigured 171 acre rail yard (situated in the Harbor District), so it can handle the 3.5 million shipping containers that go through the port each year. It will allow for the doubling of the number of trains from about 8 to 17 per day. That new rail capacity replaces some 7 million truck trips per year.
The key point is that not all of the cargo is for local deliveries. About 25% goes to hubs in Wichita, Chicago, and Atlanta. (These will be handled with 2-mile-long trains.)
The North Rail Yard will have two new mainline tracks constructed, plus five 10000 foot receiving and departure tracks- extending from the Dominguez Channel to the Pico Avenue Rail Corridor. (Storage tracks- 26 of them- will be built just north of the existing Pier B Yards, as well.)
The South End of the rail yard will sport seven 3000 foot storage tracks, and the existing seven sets of tracks (all at 3000 feet) will be lengthened and rehabilitated. Two new tracks will be added to Pico Avenue Rail Corridor, along with a compressed air facility, and reconfigured tracks near Pier D Street.
These changes will elevate the train cargo transportation capacity from 20% to 35% of the total volume passing through the port. More importantly, it means greenhouse gas emissions will be cut some 80% by 2050.
Looking forward to these major changes to the Long Beach Ports!
