The groundbreaking ceremony for the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility, a $1.567-billion project that will expand the Port of Long Beach’s rail yard from 82 acres to 171 acres, was attended by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and officials from various locations across the country.
Construction on Pier B is set to be completed in phases by 2032. This project will significantly increase the Port’s capacity for on-dock rail, allowing it to handle up to 4.7 million twenty-foot equivalent units per year and reducing emissions and strain on local roads according to port officials.
Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero stated that this expansion will add over 130,000 feet of new tracks and create an additional 36 support tracks while also doubling the number of trains leaving the port each day (from eight currently). These enhancements are expected not only benefitting supply chains nationwide but also contribute towards achieving their goal as a zero-emissions port.
