U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and officials broke ground on a $1.5 billion railyard expansion project at the port of Long Beach. The project, known as 'America's Green Gateway,' will significantly increase the port's rail cargo capacity, aiming to reduce environmental impact, traffic congestion, and air pollution caused by cargo trucks.
The expansion will connect the port to 30 major rail hubs nationwide, allowing for the movement of nearly five million containers annually. This initiative is part of efforts to enhance the resilience of American supply chains and address disruptions caused by the pandemic.
Long Beach, one of the busiest seaports in the U.S., handles 40% of the country's shipping containers. During the pandemic, the port faced challenges with gridlock, leading to delays in cargo transportation.
The project, set for completion in 2032, will feature a depot for servicing up to 30 trains simultaneously and accommodate trains up to 10,000 feet long. It will expand the rail tracks from 12 to 36, increasing daily train capacity from seven to 17.
One train can transport the equivalent of 750 truck trips, reducing traffic on Interstate 710 and minimizing truck pollution in surrounding areas. The expansion aligns with the port's goal of moving 35% of containers by on-dock rail.
The initiative received $283.4 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Mega Grant Program, part of the $1 trillion infrastructure investments under a bipartisan law signed by President Joe Biden in 2021.
