Port of Los Angeles (Port of LA) has been granted a US$20 million federal fund to speed up further cargo flow in America's busiest cargo port.

In a statement, the port noted that the federal infrastructure grant will be for a critical road-railway grade separation project at the port.

 Photo: Port of Los Angeles

"We're proud to be here marking such important progress being made, but also recognizing that there is so much more to do to fix the supply chains that were torn up by the pandemic and to make them more resilient for years to come," said Pete Buttigieg,  US Transportation secretary.

"We are delighted to formally celebrate the award of US$20 million to the Port of Los Angeles to reduce trucking delays and allow freight trains to move goods more rapidly, reducing shipping costs as part of the fight against inflation."

Freight trains to ease trucking delays

Port of LA noted that by facilitating faster cargo movement, the new roadway configuration would streamline truck access to an important container and chassis-access facility on the Port's Terminal Island, reducing traffic delays, truck dwell times and greenhouse gas emissions from idling vehicles.  

Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles mayor noted that when complete, the roadway — under the US government's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — will help our port move cargo more efficiently and meet our most critical sustainability goals.

"As the Western Hemisphere's busiest trade gateway, this grant will help us further accelerate our plans to build resiliency, increase efficiencies and sustainability, as well as create jobs," commented Gene Seroka, Port of Los Angeles executive director.

The project will entail constructing a four-lane, rail-roadway grade separation, allowing unimpeded truck access to an 80-acre marine support facility (MSF) on Terminal Island, a central location serving all terminals in the San Pedro Bay port complex.

Port of LA said currently, access to this facility for chassis and empty shipping container storage is impeded by several heavily used rail tracks and a tunnel with low vertical clearance, both of which will be addressed by the project.

When completed, the new rail roadway will connect trucks directly to the highway system in two directions, resulting in a reduction of 2,500 truck-hour delays daily; a decrease of more than 3,000 metric tons of emissions per year; and a reduction of 1,200 truck miles travelled per day, which will also decrease accident potential in the area. 

The US$20 million award comes from the US Department of Transportation (DOT) Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program, which received more funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by Congress in 2021. 

RAISE grants focus on planning and capital investments that support roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports and intermodal transportation.