The US Department of Transportation announced a US$52.6 million grant for the modernisation of on-dock rail capabilities and repairment of numerous major highways targeted at increasing cargo movement through the Port of Long Beach.
The grant will cover the addition of a track along the Dominguez Channel Railroad Bridge, easing a rail bottleneck, as part of the Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program.
The project is part of the broader Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility, which intends to improve the Californian port’s competitiveness by increasing on-dock rail capacity.
In addition, Pier B rail yard at the Port of Long Beach handles containerised imports and exports via the Transpacific trade route.
The US government grant will also be used to upgrade and relocate many roadways in the North Harbor area to facilitate the safe and reliable transportation of products carried by truck drivers.
“The North Harbor Transportation Improvements Project will modernize and expand key rail and roadways while ensuring Port of Long Beach remains a national leader in goods movement and the environment. This investment will create jobs, boost our economy, and improve the quality of life for Long Beach residents,” stated Rex Richardson, Long Beach Mayor.
Mario Cordero, CEO of Port of Long Beach, commented, “I’d like to thank our federal partners for this strategic investment in expanding our on-dock rail capabilities, which will strengthen our position as the Port of Choice and alleviate truck traffic on local roads. This grant is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our Port teammates and their continued contributions to successfully making us a leading gateway for trans-Pacific trade.”
