U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and other officials visited the port of Long Beach to mark the commencement of a $1.5 billion railyard expansion project. The endeavor, known as “America’s Green Gateway,” will significantly boost the rail cargo capacity of the port, aiming to handle nearly five million containers annually by connecting the port to 30 major rail hubs nationwide. This expansion is intended to enhance efficiency in rail operations, mitigate environmental impacts, decrease traffic congestion, and reduce air pollution caused by cargo trucks.
Buttigieg emphasized the importance of this project, highlighting its potential to bolster the American economy and lower costs. The initiative is part of several projects backed by the Biden administration to fortify American supply chains against future disruptions and remedy issues brought about by the pandemic.
Long Beach, among the busiest seaports in the U.S., handles 40% of the country’s shipping containers, either through its facilities or those of Los Angeles. The port faced challenges during the pandemic, such as significant gridlock, with numerous ships anchored offshore and shipping containers accumulating on docks due to insufficient truck capacity.
The project, anticipated to finalize in 2032, will feature a new depot for fueling and servicing up to 30 trains simultaneously. It will also allow for the assembly and disassembly of trains stretching up to 10,000 feet. With the addition of 36 rail tracks to the existing 12, the port’s daily train capacity will increase from seven to 17, aligning with Long Beach’s objective to transport 35% of containers through on-dock rail.
A single train has the capacity to transport the equivalent of cargo from 750 truck trips. The project materials suggest that without these trains, cargo would have to travel by truck to the downtown Los Angeles railyards, resulting in increased traffic on Interstate 710 and heightened truck pollution in neighboring communities.
Various officials, including U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia and Long Beach’s current mayor, Rex Richardson, highlighted the project’s significance in promoting cleaner and safer environments for families. The railyard expansion is one of the 41 projects in the U.S. to receive funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Mega Grant Program, with the port of Long Beach securing $283.4 million from the federal government as part of the $643 million obtained to date. This investment forms a portion of the infrastructure allocations from a bipartisan law enacted by President Joe Biden in 2021.
