November 3, 2023 — U.S. Department of Transportation officials on Thursday announced a $52.6 million grant to modernize critical on-dock rail capabilities and improve several key roadways aimed at speeding the flow of cargo through the Port of Long Beach.
As part of the agency’s Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program, the grant will fund the addition of a track along the Dominguez Channel Railroad Bridge, removing a rail bottleneck. The project is part of the larger Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility, which aims to strengthen the Port’s competitiveness by enhancing on-dock rail capacity throughout the Port.
The Port of Long Beach’s Pier B rail yard accommodates containerized imports and exports flowing through the trans-Pacific trade route. It’s a critical juncture and rail hub for the entire country, enabling the nation’s largest port complex to connect to 30 other major rail hubs in 85 U.S. congressional districts.
The federal grant will also go toward upgrading and relocating several roadways within the North Harbor area to ensure the safe and reliable movement of goods hauled by truck drivers.
“The North Harbor Transportation Improvements Project will modernize and expand key rail and roadways while ensuring that Port of Long Beach remains a national leader on goods movement and the environment,’’ said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson. “This investment will create jobs, boost our economy, and improve the quality of life for Long Beach residents.”
“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,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “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.”
“The infrastructure improvements supported by this generous grant will increase the efficiency and sustainability of Port operations and reduce our impacts on surrounding communities,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bobby Olvera Jr. “These critical projects will make the Port stronger, more competitive and boost economic growth for decades to come.”
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver for Californians by funding key projects across the state to strengthen our ports,” said U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla. “This funding will boost clean shipping efforts, rehabilitate degraded port infrastructure, and streamline daily operations up and down the California coast, making our ports more efficient for workers and safer for neighboring communities.”
“The Port of Long Beach is a key economic engine for the country,” said U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia. “We have been working with the Port to secure this critical funding to increase the efficiency of freight and transportation technology. A huge thank you to the President and the team at the Department of Transportation for their partnership.”
More than $662.2 million was set aside for the Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program, which awards grants based on a project’s ability to meet cargo volume growth while improving the safety, efficiency and reliability of goods moving through seaports across the United States.
