The Port of Los Angeles (Port of LA) and the Port of Long Beach have received grants from the state of California for various infrastructure and sustainability projects.
Port of LA has been awarded US$233 million in grants from the state of California to complete essential infrastructure projects aimed at creating a more efficient and sustainable supply chain and is among the US$1.5 billion recently announced by California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass thanked state officials for the grant, which she noted is "critical" to the Port of Los Angeles so that it can continue to work towards a "more secure, sustainable supply chain."
"This nearly quarter-billion-dollar investment in critical Port of Los Angeles projects — along with an additional US$191 million in supporting regional projects — will accelerate our efforts to boost competitiveness, create jobs and enhance decarbonization efforts," said Gene Seroka, executive director at Port of Los Angeles.
Port of LA's infrastructure projects supported by the new state grants include the Maritime Support Facility (MSF) Improvement and Expansion Project, which would provide chassis and empty container storage for all 12 container terminals at the ports of LA and Long Beach, critical to facilitating goods movement throughout the complex; Rail Mainline/Wilmington Community & Waterfront Pedestrian Grade Separation Bridge; and State Route 47/Seaside Avenue and Navy Way Interchange Improvements which would modify the intersection of Navy Way and Seaside Avenue to improve traffic operations, reduce collisions and improve safety.
Port of LA said it also received a US$15 million grant from the California Transportation Commission for a four-lane grade separation on Terminal Island that will reduce truck delays and improve public safety.
"Of the US$1.5 billion awarded by the California State Transportation Agency, approximately $250 million is allocated for zero-emission infrastructure, locomotives, vehicles and vessels," the port said.
Southern California regional projects totalling US$191 million were among the grants announced. These include a US$100 million BNSF rail expansion project in the High Desert and another US$76.3 million zero-emission rail and drayage fleet support project by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, among others.
Meanwhile, the Port of Long Beach said separately that it was awarded a US$383.35 million grant to complete a series of construction and clean-air technology projects aimed at accelerating the transformation to zero-emissions operations and enhancing the reliability and efficiency of cargo movement.
As part of the stat's Port and Freight Infrastructure Program, nearly US$225 million will fund a variety of zero-emissions cargo-moving equipment and support infrastructure projects across the Port of Long Beach, and include "top handlers" and other manually operated cargo-handling equipment, as well as tugboats and locomotives.
"The sum is the single largest grant the Port has ever received to support the zero-emissions goals of the 2017 Clean Air Action Plan Update," the port said in the announcement.
Additionally, the Port of Long Beach said US$158.4 million of the state grant would go toward the planned Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility, which will shift more cargo from trucks to on-dock rail, where containers are taken to and from marine terminals by trains.
The US$1.57 billion facility will be built in phases, with construction scheduled to begin in 2024 and be completed in 2032.
As part of its Clean Air Action Plan, or CAAP, the Port of Long Beach has set a goal of zero-emissions terminal operations by 2030 and zero-emissions trucking by 2035.
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson said the grant would help increase cargo capacity, improve operational efficiency and put the Port of Long Beach one step closer to reaching its environmental goals.
"The state's investment will ensure continued growth and resiliency for this vital gateway for trans-Pacific trade," Richardson said.
Mario Cordero, CEO at Port of Long Beach, said the "game-changing grant" would make a tremendous difference in efforts to enhance the efficiency of cargo movement and accelerate the Port's ongoing transformation to zero-emission operations.
The 2022-2023 state budget sets aside US$2.3 billion for supply chain resilience, including one-time funding totalling US$1.2 billion for the Port and Freight Infrastructure Program to support goods movement networks affected by the pandemic-induced cargo surge that resulted in unprecedented congestion at California's seaports.
