$1.5 billion railyard expansion project to begin at Long Beach port

LOS ANGELES, California: U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and other officials celebrated the groundbreaking of a US$1.5 billion railyard expansion at the Port of Long Beach on July 18.

This major infrastructure project, set to enhance one of America's busiest seaports, aims to significantly increase rail cargo capacity and improve supply chain resilience.

The expansion, part of the "America's Green Gateway" initiative, will more than triple the port's rail cargo handling capacity to nearly five million containers annually. This project is designed to streamline rail operations, reduce environmental impacts, alleviate traffic congestion, and cut air pollution caused by cargo trucks.

Buttigieg emphasized the importance of the expansion, stating, "This work builds a rail network on a port that more than triples the volume of cargo that can move by rail. It is the kind of throughput that will keep America's economy humming and costs down with benefits across the country."

Long Beach, which handles 40 percent of all shipping containers entering the United States, experienced severe gridlock during the pandemic. Ships waited off-shore, and shipping containers piled up on the docks due to insufficient trucking capacity.

The railyard expansion, scheduled for completion in 2032, will introduce a depot for fueling and servicing up to 30 trains simultaneously and facilities to assemble and disassemble trains up to 10,000 feet long. The project will add 36 rail tracks to the existing 12 and increase daily train capacity from seven to 17. This upgrade aligns with the port's goal of moving 35 percent of containers via on-dock rail.

The expansion will help reduce truck traffic on Interstate 710 and minimize pollution in surrounding communities. Each train can carry the equivalent of 750 truckloads of cargo, offering a cleaner, more efficient alternative to road transport.

U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia highlighted the health benefits of the project, noting, "The ability for families to breathe healthier air, to be free of cancer and asthma, and to know that they can raise their children in a cleaner, safer community is paramount."

The rail upgrade is among 41 projects funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Mega Grant Program, which has allocated $283.4 million to date. This investment is part of the broader $1 trillion infrastructure bill signed by President Joe Biden in 2021.