By Karen Robes Meeks
The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners agreed earlier this week to seek out construction bids for a planned rail project at the Port of Long Beach.
The Double Track Access from Pier G to J Project is expected to make cargo movement up to 25 percent more efficient by placing more cargo on rail as opposed to trucks.
The $25 million project, expected to be completed in 2021, will add a new 9,000-foot mainline track to help trains serve four terminals in the port’s south basin. The port will invest $11 million into the project, and a grant from the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program will fund the rest.
“The Double Track Access from Pier G to J Project is part of our ongoing efforts to improve the Port so that Long Beach remains globally competitive and environmentally sustainable well into the future,” said Commission President Bonnie Lowenthal.
The commission is expected to award a construction contract by December.