Congressman Robert Garcia Announces $283 Million Federal Mega Grant for Port of Long Beach
Long Beach, California - Today, after months of advocacy, Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) announced that the Port of Long Beach will receive over $283 million dollars in federal grant money from the Department of Transportation for the completion of the Pier B On-Dock Rail support Facility Program. This project is estimated to create over 1,000 new jobs directly in our community and will add over 13,000 jobs nationwide. The project will connect the port with inland rail yards, to enhance on-dock rail operations at one of the nation’s busiest container ports. This will significantly reduce truck traffic, and harmful emissions while improving safety, local congestion, and yielding nationwide economic benefits.
“This is a home run and significant investment for Long Beach and trade across the country. This grant will create over 1,000 local jobs and 13,000 jobs across the country, As the former Mayor of Long Beach I know how impactful this project will be to supporting the supply chain while reducing harmful pollution for families here at home.” said Congressman Garcia. “We are grateful to President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg for their support and partnership.”
“The impact this funding will have on developing this project of national importance is staggering,” said Port of Long Beach Chief Executive Officer Mario Cordero. “This is a facility that will help move cargo more efficiently to homes and businesses across America, and from U.S. producers to overseas markets, resulting in systemwide benefits to the supply chain. We’d like to thank the U.S. Department of Transportation and Congressman Robert Garcia for recognizing the significance of this project and making a significant investment in sustainable, efficient cargo movement.”
“I want to thank the Biden-Harris administration, Secretary Buttigieg, and the US Department of Transportation for awarding Long Beach this landmark $283 million infrastructure investment, ensuring that our Port will remain a national leader in goods movement, while creating thousands of quality local jobs,” said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson. “The Pier B Rail project represents a vital infrastructure investment that will improve the Port of Long Beach’s sustainability and efficiency, bringing us up to 35% on-dock rail capacity in our terminals and improving the air quality for our residents.”
The project aims to complete the North Rail Yard Expansion and the South Rail Yard Expansion at the Port of Long Beach. The North Rail Yard Expansion will construct two new mainline tracks, five new 10,000-foot receiving and departure tracks extending from west of the Dominguez Channel to the Pico Avenue rail corridor, and 26 new storage tracks north of the existing Pier B Yard. It also includes active at-grade warning devices and railroad pre-emption with a new traffic signal at Pier B Street. The South Rail Yard Expansion will add seven new 3,000-foot storage tracks, lengthen, and rehabilitate seven existing 3,000-foot storage tracks, construct two new tracks in the Pico Avenue Rail Corridor, reconfigure tracks near Pier D Street, and construct a new compressed air facility.
In August of this year Congressman Garcia wrote to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to advocate for these funds. The letter can be found here. Throughout his time as Mayor of Long Beach to now the Congressman has been in constant communication with senior White House officials and the Port of Long Beach to secure these funds.