US$14.5m grant for rail project

The Port of Long Beach will use the grant from the US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) to fund its ‘Terminal Island Wye Track Realignment’ railroad project, which will move trains in and out of the port faster, reduce locomotive idling and improve safety. The project could also cut emissions by reducing reliance on trucks.

“We’re so pleased to see the U.S. Department of Transportation support this important project,” said Mario Cordero, executive director of the Port of Long Beach. “This will help to move cargo more efficiently through the Port, which in turn supports jobs across the United States.”

New tracks

Long Beach’s rail project is particularly expected to improve rail efficiency on Terminal Island, which is home to the port’s largest container terminal, Pier T. The project will construct new tracks and enhance a triangular rail junction where long trains can be turned and staged.

The total project cost is US$40m, and the port will fund the remaining US$25.5m. The TI Wye project will support the port’s plan to increase on-dock rail, and will also improve rail access to two Long Beach bulk terminals on the eastern end of Pier T.

The project is scheduled to start construction in mid 2021 and be completed by early 2023.

This grant is one of the first from MARAD’s new port infrastructure development programme. The funding from this programme is specifically designed for capital improvement projects at US seaports.