The new on-dock rail system will move cargo directly to and from marine terminals by trains, easing the burden on local and regional roads while cutting emissions. The project will expand the port’s existing rail yard from 82 acres to 171 acres and will be constructed in phases, with completion expected by 2032.
Once operational, the facility will more than triple the port’s on-dock rail capacity from 1.5 million TEU to 4.7 million TEU per year. It will also include a depot capable of fueling and servicing up to 30 locomotives simultaneously and a full-service staging area to assemble and disassemble trains up to 10,000 feet long.
“Today, work starts on a rail network that triples cargo volume, keeps costs down, and reduces pollution – and it’s all because of the historic funding made possible by the Biden-Harris Administration,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.
Mario Cordero, CEO of the Port of Long Beach, highlighted the project's extensive benefits: “The Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility will add 130,000 feet of new tracks, build 36 new support tracks, and more than double the number of trains leaving the Port to 17 per day. These improvements will benefit the entire U.S. supply chain and get us closer to the operational and environmental transformation into a zero-emissions port.”
The Port of Long Beach has secured $643 million in grant funding from federal, state, and local transportation agencies for the project. This includes $404.1 million from the federal government, $228.8 million from the state of California, and $10 million from Los Angeles County.
Through this initiative and other supply chain enhancements, the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility aims to bolster the robustness and resilience of America's supply chains, preparing them for future disruptions.
