Port of Long Beach Pier B

The Port of Long Beach (POLB), the second busiest port in the U.S., is modernizing its on-dock rail support infrastructure to leverage the sustainable benefits of shipping goods by rail rather than truck. A double-stacked intermodal train can eliminate hundreds of truck trips, and trains are up to four times more fuel-efficient. Ultimately, the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility Program will enhance capacity, speed, and safety.

Key components of the program include:

• Realignment of the existing Pier B Street and Pico Avenue.
• Closure of the Ninth Street grade crossing.
• Expansion of the existing yard to 38 storage tracks.
• Expansion of inbound-outbound staging tracks to accommodate up to five 10,000 LF trains.
• Removal of the Shoemaker Bridge ramps and other streets between 9th Street and 12th Street.
• Relocation of existing utilities.
• Relocation of existing main-line tracks into the North Harbor area.
• Widening of the Dominguez Channel Bridge to accommodate an additional track.

Hill is supporting the overall management of the 14-year program, which the POLB calls the “centerpiece” of its rail improvement program. This initiative will save approximately 750 truck trips between the POLB and off-dock rail yards. Hill’s services include program management, project controls, real estate management, project coordination, master scheduling review, third-party coordination, risk management, constructability review, grant management, permitting support, contractor prequalification, quality assurance, cost engineering, utility, oil field and real estate relocation, and acquisition support.

The $1.5 billion program will more than double the size of the existing Pier B rail yard and triple the volume of on-dock rail cargo the POLB can handle annually. It will also feature a depot for servicing up to 30 locomotives and a staging area to assemble and break down trains up to 10,000 LF. The project will be built in phases, each improving cargo flow, with completion anticipated by 2032. Adding on-dock rail capacity will significantly improve rail operations throughout the San Pedro Bay ports complex, allowing more cargo to move with less environmental impact and reducing traffic congestion.

In addition, the program is crucial for helping the POLB meet the goals set in the San Pedro Bay Ports 2017 Clean Air Action Plan Update. The project site, located in the Harbor District, is a critical juncture in the POLB’s rail network, primarily used by Pacific Harbor Line, recognized for its clean diesel locomotives.

As Program Management Consultant (PMC) and staff augmentation partner since 2019, Hill’s work will enhance on-dock rail capacity at the POLB’s terminals, accelerating deliveries, easing congestion, and reducing environmental impacts. The Hill team was key to confirming compliance with grantor guidelines, particularly those of the Maritime Administration (MARAD), for the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility project. Recognizing the critical role of grants in advancing this initiative, the Hill team has successfully supported the POLB in securing substantial grant funds from various sources. These funds underscore the project’s importance to the economy, especially in the post-COVID-19 era. Additionally, Hill assisted POLB in preparing the first construction package (East Expansion) for bidding, with the notice to proceed (NTP) scheduled for 2024.

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