The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners has approved a USD $870 million budget to build the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility, a centrepiece of the port’s $1 billion rail improvement program.
Designed to shift more shipping containers from trucks to rail, the facility will result in a more efficient and sustainable transfer of cargo, helping the Port of Long Beach to stay competitive and meet environmental targets.
As a result, no trucks would visit the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility.
With demand for on-dock rail in the harbour expected to double by 2035, the port has set the dates for the first arrival, departure and storage tracks in 2024, with additional tracks coming online in 2030, followed by project completion in 2032.
“The Port’s $1 billion rail program is designed to meet the needs of our customers,” said Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners President Tracy Egoscue. “Moving more cargo by train helps our marine terminals transfer cargo faster.
“At the same time, it helps us make progress toward the environmental goals the Commission set in the Clean Air Action Plan and continue to lead the industry on sustainable operations.”
“Projects like the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility show our commitment to finding ways to deliver operational excellence for our customers while reducing environmental impacts on the community,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero.
Read more about climate change and sustainability in ports by reading a Port Technology technical paper
“This development is strategically planned to deliver several key improvements within the next six years. These will provide major incremental benefits to the Port’s on-dock rail network, improving the flow of cargo to and from our marine terminals.”
Currently, the ability to build long trains is limited due to the lack of adequate yard tracks and the configuration of mainline tracks.
The Pier B facility would change this, providing track space to join sections of trains assembled at terminals.
A 1-mile-long train can take as many as 750 trucks off the roadways. View a video about the project here.
The Port of Long Beach is one of the world’s premier seaports, a gateway for trans-Pacific trade and a trailblazer in goods movement and environmental stewardship.
With 140 shipping lines connecting Long Beach to 217 seaports, the Port handles $194 billion in trade annually, supporting thousands of Southern California jobs.
The port was recently awarded in excess of $4 million from the Port Security Grant Program, which will be used to expand and enhance its physical and cybersecurity capabilities.
Read more:
PTI Edition 79: Smart Ports and Supply Chain Technologies
#SPSC18 Papers from Edition 79
