Long Beach port obtains $283 million Mega grant for on-dock rail project (12/19/2023)
12/19/2024The Port of Long Beach will receive a $283 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to fund the completion of the port's Pier B on-dock rail support facility.
The project is designed to connect the California port with inland rail yards, enhance on-dock rail operations and reduce truck traffic, carbon emissions and congestion, according to a press release from U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.).
Issued through the USDOT's Mega Grant Program, the port's grant will go toward a $1.6 billion project that is the centerpiece of the port's on-dock rail construction improvements, port officials said in a press release.
"The Pier B Rail project represents a vital infrastructure investment that will improve the Port of Long Beach’s sustainability and efficiency, bringing us up to 35% on-dock rail capacity in our terminals and improving the air quality for our residents," said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson.
The project aims to complete the North Rail Yard and South Rail Yard expansions at the port. The North Rail Yard project calls for constructing two new mainline tracks, five new 10,000-foot receiving and departure tracks extending from west of the Dominguez Channel to the Pico Avenue rail corridor, and 26 new storage tracks north of the existing Pier B Yard.
The North Rail Yard expansion also includes installing active at-grade warning devices and railroad preemption with a new traffic signal at Pier B Street.
The South Rail Yard project calls for adding seven 3,000-foot storage tracks; lengthening and rehabilitating seven existing 3,000-foot storage tracks; constructing two new tracks in the Pico Avenue Rail Corridor; reconfiguring tracks near Pier D Street; and constructing a new compressed air facility.
The Mega grant follows a $158.4 million grant from the state of California for the project.
Source: Progressive Railroading Daily News