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The Port of Long Beach recently issued a notice to proceed to HDR Inc., which will conduct engineering services for the port’s Pier B Rail Facility infrastructure program. The port has identified the project as being the most critical in its rail master plan; the facility will serve as its primary rail car storage and staging area.

The $250 million project includes realigning Pier B Street to accommodate new yard tracks, constructing 80,000 feet of track at the Pier B rail yard, and designing classification yard facilities and/or a near-dock facility in the North Harbor area. In addition to providing engineering services for the various project components, HDR will conduct feasibility studies, an alternatives analysis and preliminary engineering for potential grade separations at 9th Street and the North Harbor Area.

And to support the port’s Green Port Policy, HDR will conduct sustainable-design and technology studies. The firm will assess sustainable-design factors such as air quality, energy efficiency and conservation, materials and water conservation and waste handling to ensure they are integrated into the facility’s design, operation and maintenance requirements.

HDR will use the technology study to analyze alternative technologies for container movement using non-polluting equipment other than rail and trucks. The firm also will assess technologies designed to improve rail service operations.

The port plans to begin building the facility in 2012; the project is expected to take about four years to complete.