LOS ANGELES – July 10, 2024 – The Port of Los Angeles has successfully completed a significant rail expansion project on Pier 400, valued at $73 million. This project aims to enhance cargo flow, reduce truck emissions, and improve roadway safety at the busiest port in the United States.
“This major rail project will boost cargo efficiency and lower emissions, aligning with our sustainable growth blueprint,” said Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles. “Investing in capital improvements like this is crucial to maintaining our competitive edge.”
Jon Poelma, Managing Director of APM Terminals Los Angeles Pier 400, added, “With the Port’s substantial investment in rail infrastructure, APM Terminals can now handle more intermodal cargo efficiently, serving a broader range of inland locations. This upgrade strengthens the Port of LA’s position as a premier gateway for cargo owners who need reliable, fast, and well-connected supply chains.”
The expanded use of the Pier 400 on-dock rail yard will create additional rail capacity for all terminal operators at the Port of Los Angeles. The rail yard is a vital link between the San Pedro Bay port complex and the Alameda Corridor, which handles about 10% of all waterborne containers entering and leaving the United States.
With increasing rail demand, the upgraded rail yard is expected to eliminate approximately 1,200 truck trips per day by 2040.
The construction of the expanded intermodal rail storage yard near APM Terminals’ container terminal began in 2021. The project included adding 31,000 linear feet of track, five new railroad storage tracks, a concrete rail bridge with lighting, an asphalt access roadway, new crossovers and turnouts, and updates to the compressed air system.
Additional work involved relocating a portion of the lead track onto Port of Los Angeles property, realigning the track connection to the rail storage yard, modifying Reeves Avenue, and moving the at-grade crossing from Nimitz Avenue to Reeves Avenue.
The construction was carried out by Herzog/Stacy and Witbeck Joint Venture.
The project received $21.6 million in grant funding from the California Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP), which supports the improvement of freight corridors within the state. The Port of Los Angeles funded the remaining nearly $51.6 million.
These rail projects support California’s broader goals for sustainable freight and mobility, meeting federal and state grant requirements aimed at improving air quality, spurring job growth, reducing congestion, and benefiting disadvantaged and low-income communities.
Source: https://www.portoflosangeles.org/references/2024-news-releases/news_071024_pier_400_expansion