The Port of Long Beach has extended the comment period on a draft report studying a proposed rail support facility that would increase the use of “on-dock” trains, moving cargo more efficiently while making operations more sustainable.
The public is invited to submit written comments until March 13. The previous deadline was Feb. 13.
The proposed Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility could shift more cargo to on-dock rail, where containers are placed directly on trains at marine terminals, significantly reducing trips by trucks throughout the region. No trucks would visit the facility. Instead, smaller train segments would be brought to the facility and joined together into a full-sized train.
The rail yard would be operated by Pacific Harbor Line, which provides short haul rail transportation switching services, railroad track maintenance and train dispatching services under contract to the Port. Pacific Harbor Line is the first railroad in the nation that has converted its entire fleet to clean diesel locomotives that reduce air pollution and save fuel.