The Port of Long Beach will receive $283 million from the federal government to assist in building “America’s Green Gateway,” a rail project which will enable one of the nation’s busiest seaports to move more cargo by trains, speeding deliveries across the entire national supply chain, easing congestion and lessening local environmental impacts.
The funding was awarded for the Port’s Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Mega Grant Program. The $1.567 billion project is the centerpiece of the Port’s on-dock rail construction improvements.
Moving cargo by on-dock rail – directly moving containers to and from marine terminals by trains – is cleaner and more efficient, as it reduces truck traffic. When the new facility opens, no cargo trucks will visit. Instead, smaller train segments will be brought to the facility and joined together into a full-sized train.
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla said:
“Reliable and efficient transportation of goods is crucial for keeping our economy thriving while protecting the air we breathe. The Port of Long Beach is a leading international hub for transporting major cargo, and this project will slash truck emissions while supporting economic growth and efficiency. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are strengthening our supply chain while creating jobs and improving air quality in near-port communities across the region.”
U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia said:
“This is a home run and significant investment for Long Beach and trade across the country. This grant will create over 1,000 local jobs and 13,000 jobs across the country. As the former mayor of Long Beach I know how impactful this project will be to supporting the supply chain while reducing harmful pollution for families here at home.”
California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin, who led a state delegation to Washington, D.C., over the summer to engage with top U.S. transportation officials about increased investments in California’s ports:
“This Mega grant – which follows California’s $158.4 million award for the Pier B On Dock Rail project as part of a historic investment in supply chain infrastructure earlier this year – shows the power Governor Newsom’s and President Biden’s infrastructure packages can have when working together.”
Port of Long Beach Chief Executive Officer Mario Cordero said:
“The impact this funding will have on developing this project of national importance is staggering. This is a facility that will help move cargo more efficiently to homes and businesses across America, and from U.S. producers to overseas markets, resulting in systemwide benefits to the supply chain.”
Due to the importance of the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility to the national supply chain, the Port continues to seek funding partners for the project. The California State Transportation Agency – CalSTA – in July 2023 announced a grant of $158 million from the Port and Freight Infrastructure Program to help fund the Pier B project as an important part of the state’s cargo movement strategy. The federal government previously awarded almost $105 million to the project. To date, the Port has secured more than $640 million in grant funding for Pier B.
Construction is expected to begin next year. The new facility will more than double the size of the existing Pier B rail yard from 82 acres to 171 acres and more than triple the volume of on-dock rail cargo the Port can handle annually, from 1.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to 4.7 million TEUs. The yard will also feature a depot for fueling and servicing up to 30 locomotives at the same time and a full-service staging area to assemble and break down trains up to 10,000 feet long. The overall project will be built in phases, each improving cargo flow, with completion by 2032. View the project fact sheets and more information at the project page.
