By Karen Robes Meeks
An on-dock rail facility project at the Port of Long Beach moved forward this week following the Harbor Commissioners’ endorsement of the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility.
“This project is vital to our ability to stay competitive and will minimize truck trips generated by anticipated cargo growth,” said Harbor Commission President Lou Anne Bynum. “Moving more cargo by rail to and from the Port reduces air pollution and makes operations more efficient.”
The proposed facility—to be located southwest of Anaheim Street and Interstate 710—would be operated by Pacific Harbor Line and would allow more cargo to be put directly on trains at marine terminals instead of ferrying that cargo onto trucks. This would make cargo movement cleaner. A one-mile-long train can remove as many as 750 trucks off the road, according to the port.
“The Clean Air Action Plan calls for increased use of on-dock rail, and we have a goal of raising our on-dock volumes to at least 35 percent of our shipments,” Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero said. “It’s crucial that we build this facility to hit these environmental and business goals.”
In the coming months, the board will consider the project’s baseline budget. Preliminary designs for the project are in the works.
