The Port of Los Angeles (POLA) has received a US$20 million federal RAISE infrastructure grant for a critical road-railway grade separation project to facilitate faster cargo movement.
The Californian port said the new roadway configuration will streamline truck access to an important container and chassis-access facility on the Port’s Terminal Island, reducing traffic delays, truck dwell times and greenhouse gas emissions from idling vehicles.
US Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg said, “We are delighted to formally celebrate the award of US$20 million to the Port of Los Angeles to reduce trucking delays and allow freight trains to move goods more rapidly, reducing shipping costs as part of the fight against inflation.”
Los Angeles Mayor, Eric Garcetti pointed out that when the project is completed, “this roadway made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Secretary Buttigieg’s leadership will help our port move cargo more efficiently and meet our most critical sustainability goals.”
The project will entail the construction of a four-lane, rail-roadway grade separation, which will allow unimpeded truck access to an 80-acre marine support facility (MSF) on Terminal Island, a central location serving all terminals in the San Pedro Bay port complex, according to a statement.
Currently, access to this facility for chassis and empty shipping container storage is impeded by several heavily used rail tracks and a tunnel with low vertical clearance, both of which are expected to be addressed by the project.
When completed, the new rail-roadway will connect trucks directly to the highway system in two directions, resulting in a reduction of 2,500 truck-hour delays daily; a decrease of more than 3,000 metric tons of emissions per year; and a reduction of 1,200 truck miles traveled per day, which will also decrease accident potential in the area.
The US$20 million award comes from the US Department of Transportation (DOT) Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant programme, which received more funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by Congress in 2021.
