The Port of Long Beach has committed over $56 million to the construction of a new new on-dock rail support yard through the awarding of two major contracts.
Now, engineering design work and program management of the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility project is proceeding.
The Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility Project will expand the port’s capability for loading shipping containers directly on rail cars instead of being loaded on trucks for short-haul trips. The expansion and reconfiguration of the existing Pier B railyard will create a staging area for loading freight trains nearly two miles long, eliminating thousands of local truck trips.
“Modernizing Pier B will allow our marine container terminals to move more cargo seamlessly from the docks to their destinations in America’s heartland,” said Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners resident Tracy Egoscue.
“These efficiencies also advance our environmental goals under the Clean Air Action Plan.”
The Port awarded the engineering design contract to HDR Engineering Inc. Under the five-year, $38.75 million contract, the Long Beach engineering firm’s services include program-level design; utility, geotechnical and right-of-way analysis and planning; development of specifications for the first phase of rail improvements and the realignment of Pier B Street; and support work ensuring the facility is designed and built to maximize on-dock rail use and efficiency.
HDR will work with subconsultant Moffatt & Nichol on the Pier B project.
The contract for program management, project controls and real estate services went to Irvine-based Hill International Inc. Under its five-year, $17.5 million contract, Hill will assist the Port with multiple administrative tasks including project management, design review, risk management, permitting, managing the program’s schedule, budget, costs and progress, and business relocation and property acquisition.
“This is a trend-setting program,” says John Skoury, senior vice president and deputy regional manager in Hill’s Irvine, CA, office.
“POLB is a leader in handling and shipping container freight for the entire U.S., and we can expect other port facilities to follow suit on their own projects. The team we have in place at POLB has worked closely with the port for years now on similarly ambitious and necessary assignments, and we will apply the best practices of this work to augment POLB’s own team in making the Pier B program a success.
The Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility project will reconfigure, expand and enhance the existing rail facility located southwest of West Anaheim Street and the 710 Freeway. When completed, the $870 million, 171-acre rail facility will be a full-service staging area for storing, sorting and assembling trains up to 10,000 feet long.
“Our commitment to operational excellence starts with comprehensive planning and design, ensuring that this state-of-the-art rail facility increases efficiencies for our customers while improving air quality for our community,” said Port executive director Mario Cordero.
“Better, faster and safer on-dock rail service makes our Port more competitive and strengthens every link in the supply chain.”
Like all major Port redevelopment projects, the new rail facility will be built in phases. The first arrival, departure and storage tracks are expected to be operational in 2024, additional tracks are due to come online in 2030, and the entire project is scheduled to be completed in 2032.
The Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility Project will expand the port’s capability for loading shipping containers directly on rail cars instead of being loaded on trucks for short-haul trips. The expansion and reconfiguration of the existing Pier B railyard will create a staging area for loading freight trains nearly 2 miles long, eliminating thousands of local truck trips.
“This is a game-changer for the port,” said Tom Kim, HDR’s senior vice president and transportation manager for Southern California.
“We have been working with the port a long time on preparation for this critical project, and we’re excited to see it all come together.”
