Historic Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks New Era for Port of Long Beach

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and officials from across the nation gathered on Thursday to break ground on the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility, a $1.5 billion project that is set to revolutionize cargo movement at the Port of Long Beach.

The event drew around 500 attendees who celebrated the project’s potential to double the existing rail yard’s footprint from 82 acres to 171 acres. The Pier B facility will be constructed in phases, each aimed at enhancing cargo movement, with completion slated for 2032.

Once finished, the project will more than triple the Port’s capacity for on-dock rail to 4.7 million twenty-foot equivalent units annually and allow cargo to be moved directly to and from marine terminals by trains, reducing emissions and alleviating stress on the local and regional road networks.

“Today marks the beginning of a rail network upgrade that will triple cargo volume, reduce costs, and cut pollution,” said Buttigieg. “This historic funding, made possible by the Biden-Harris Administration, will strengthen our supply chains, making them more resilient against future disruptions.”

The groundbreaking coincides with the Port of Long Beach announcing its strongest June on record, with a 41% increase in goods moved compared to the same month last year. Similarly, the Port of Los Angeles reported strong June figures, showing a 14% year-over-year increase at the year’s halfway point.

“The Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility will add 130,000 feet of new tracks and 36 new support tracks, doubling the number of daily train departures to 17,” said Mario Cordero, CEO of the Port of Long Beach. “These improvements will benefit the entire U.S. supply chain and bring us closer to becoming a zero-emissions port.”

Recognizing the project’s significance, the Port of Long Beach has secured $643 million in grant funding from federal, state, and local transportation agencies. The federal government has contributed $404.1 million, with the state of California adding $228.8 million and Los Angeles County providing $10 million. The ceremony was attended by members of the U.S. Congress, California Legislature, and officials from various California state agencies and transportation authorities.

“This project exemplifies our efforts to create jobs, reduce pollution, eliminate bottlenecks, and build a more dynamic supply chain,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom. “We are proud to collaborate with the Biden-Harris Administration on initiatives that enhance our state’s supply chain and strengthen our position in global trade.”

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