The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners has approved an US$870 million budget to build the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility.

According to the port, the facility is designed to shift more shipping containers from trucks to rail and will result in a more efficient and sustainable transfer of cargo. No trucks would visit the new facility.

The first arrival, departure and storage tracks are expected to be completed in 2024, with additional tracks coming online in 2030, followed by project completion in 2032.

“The port’s US$1 billion rail programme is designed to meet the needs of our customers,” said Tracy Egoscue, president of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners. “Moving more cargo by train helps our marine terminals transfer cargo faster. At the same time, it helps us make progress toward the environmental goals the commission set in the Clean Air Action Plan and continue to lead the industry on sustainable operations.”

The ability to build long trains is currently limited due to the lack of adequate yard tracks and the configuration of mainline tracks. The Pier B facility would provide track space to join together sections of trains assembled at terminals. A mile-long train could take as many as 750 trucks off the roadways.

“Projects like the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility show our commitment to finding ways to deliver operational excellence for our customers while reducing environmental impacts on the community,” said Mario Cordero, executive director of the Port of Long Beach. “This development is strategically planned to deliver several key improvements within the next six years. These will provide major incremental benefits to the port’s on-dock rail network, improving the flow of cargo to and from our marine terminals.”

Demand for on-dock rail in the harbour is expected to double by 2035, according to the Port of Long Beach.