UPDATE | The Port of Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners approved on Monday a project to redevelop a rail yard in the Harbor District aimed at more quickly moving cargo with less of an environmental impact.

The approval came after the last public hearing on an environmental impact report took place.

“No cargo trucks would visit the facility, enhancing the environmental benefits of pushing more cargo to rail transportation,” port officials said in a release. “A one-mile-long train can take as many as 750 trucks off the roadways. Additionally, the rail facility would be operated by Pacific Harbor Line, a switching railroad that has converted its fleet to clean-diesel locomotives that reduce air pollution and save fuel.”

Port officials said the next step includes the board’s consideration of a baseline budget for the project following the completion of preliminary designs over the coming months.

The Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility would be located southwest of Anaheim Street and the Long Beach (710) Freeway.

PREVIOUSLY: Harbor Commission to Hold Public Hearing for Impact Report on Proposed Port Rail Facility

rail facility1/19/18 at 1:27PM | A public hearing is scheduled Monday to discuss an environmental impact report on a proposal to redevelop a rail yard in the Harbor District to move cargo more quickly with less of an environmental impact, the Port of Long Beach (POLB) announced.

The hearing will take place during the Board of Harbor Commissioners meeting.

“The proposed Pier B On-Dock RailSupport Facility would shift more cargo to ‘on-dock rail,’ which places containers directly on trains at marine terminals,” port officials stated. “Currently, the ability to build long trains is limited due to the lack of adequate yard tracks and the configuration of mainline tracks.”

The facility would provide track space to join together trains assembled at terminals, according to the port. With no cargo trucks visiting the facility, officials said it would enhance the environmental benefits of pushing more cargo to rail transportation.

See video of the project here.

If the document is approved by the commission the port will continue to stay engaged with the community during the progress of the project, officials stated. The Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility would be located southwest of Anaheim Street and the Long Beach (710) Freeway.

The EIR is available at:

  • www.polb.com/ceqa
  • Port of Long Beach Interim Administrative Offices, 4801 Airport Plaza Drive, Long Beach
  • Long Beach Main Library, 101 Pacific Avenue, Long Beach
  • San Pedro Regional Branch Library, 931 Ssouth Gaffey Street, San Pedro
  • Wilmington Branch Library, 1300 North Avalon Boulevard, Wilmington

The commission will consider the final EIR for the facility at its regular meeting on Monday, January 22 at 6:00PM at the Port’s Interim Administrative Offices, located at 4801 Airport Plaza Drive.

Stephanie Rivera is the community engagement editor. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter at @StephRivera88.