The Port of Long Beach is expanding its rail yard in a $1.5 billion project called “America’s Green Gateway”. The project will triple the port’s rail cargo capacity, connecting it to 30 major rail hubs across the U.S. By improving rail operations and decreasing reliance on cargo trucks, the expansion aims to reduce environmental impacts, traffic congestion, and air pollution.

“This work builds a rail network on a port that more than triples the volume of cargo that can move by rail to nearly 5 million containers a year,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Rail capacity will expand from 12 to 48 tracks, and daily train operations will increase from seven to 17. The expansion will include a depot for up to 30 trains and allow for assembling trains up to 10,000 feet long. Each train can replace 750 truck trips’ worth of cargo.

The Port of Long Beach aims to move 35% of containers by on-dock rail. The expansion project is expected to be completed by 2032.

Source: Transport Topics