Western Railroad Discussion > Pier B

https://www.americanshipper.com/main/news/70283.aspx

So the Port of Long Beach files a argument against the proposed Port of Los Angles BNSF project but wants its own project to go through?

Here's the project from POLB's point of view (includes a map):

http://www.polb.com/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=13686




Allen

Apples and Oranges...proposed BNSF project involved a full terminal facility supported by trucks and traffic. Proposed Long Beach facility is a rail storage/switching facility with no intermodal terminal or trucks.

Makes sense. This area of the Port of Long Beach has long been a rail congested mess with highway road crossings. As the import/export volumes have grown only minimal rail improvements have been accomplished in this part of the Port of Long Beach. Time for some additional capital improvement!

Pete Baumhefner

Zephyr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Apples and Oranges...proposed BNSF project
> involved a full terminal facility supported by
> trucks and traffic. Proposed Long Beach facility
> is a rail storage/switching facility with no
> intermodal terminal or trucks.

I am not comparing the 2, I only commented that it was interesting that the Port of Long Beach is opposed to the BNSF Port of Los Angeles project. With them wanting (needing) their own project, it gives the appearance (whether or not true) of an ulterior motive for the opposition.

> Makes sense. This area of the Port of Long Beach
> has long been a rail congested mess with highway
> road crossings. As the import/export volumes have
> grown only minimal rail improvements have been
> accomplished in this part of the Port of Long
> Beach. Time for some additional capital
> improvement!

I didn't say anything against the Port of Long Beach project. Yes, that whole area was a mess 20 years ago and has only gotten worse. Yes the a project is needed. No argument there.

The opposition to BNSF's SCIG was spear-headed by the City of Long Beach, due to residents' fears of trucks across the 103 at Hudson Elementary, at the park, and at the housing. The facility as proposed would be the greenest such facility in the nation, with low- or zero-emission trucks, all electric RMG wide-span cranes and yard goats. Plus it would take trucks off of the 710 and 110 headed to Hobart (but not the 103, which mainly serves the ICTF for port trucks). But the "social justice" movement would hear none of it. The move was purely political. The POLB board members have reluctantly gone along with the city, since their positions are at-risk to a certain degree through the city council. The POLB and POLA folks are very competitive, yet work together often in each other's best interests, as they know if they do something that hurts one, it will come back to bite them. This is not the POLB trying to shoot down the POLA: they are doing what they need to do. Aren't politics fun?

Bruce

StStephen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The opposition to BNSF's SCIG was spear-headed by
> the City of Long Beach, due to residents' fears of
> trucks across the 103 at Hudson Elementary, at the
> park, and at the housing. The facility as
> proposed would be the greenest such facility in
> the nation, with low- or zero-emission trucks, all
> electric RMG wide-span cranes and yard goats.
> Plus it would take trucks off of the 710 and 110
> headed to Hobart (but not the 103, which mainly
> serves the ICTF for port trucks). But the "social
> justice" movement would hear none of it. The move
> was purely political. The POLB board members have
> reluctantly gone along with the city, since their
> positions are at-risk to a certain degree through
> the city council. The POLB and POLA folks are very
> competitive, yet work together often in each
> other's best interests, as they know if they do
> something that hurts one, it will come back to
> bite them. This is not the POLB trying to shoot
> down the POLA: they are doing what they need to
> do. Aren't politics fun?
>
> Bruce

You could have stopped at the Long Beach City Council. A friend of mine said that they basiclly want to cater to visitors and residents and expect the port to pay for it all.

> You could have stopped at the Long Beach City
> Council. A friend of mine said that they basiclly
> want to cater to visitors and residents and expect
> the port to pay for it all.

Yep. Port board members, who are predominantly pro-business, pro-growth, and understand they have a symbiotic relationship with POLA, have a lot to tolerate and force a smile about.

Bruce