Comments now accepted through March 13
Pier B at the Port of Long Beach.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. An additional public hearing has also been scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15 at Tepechi Restaurant, 1430 Santa Fe Ave., in Long Beach. The Port has hosted two public hearings on the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility: on Jan. 11 at Silverado Park and on Jan. 18 at the Port Interim Administrative Offices.  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. To view a project fact sheet, read the draft EIR and see a video about the proposed facility, go to www.polb.com/PierB. The draft EIR analyzes the impacts of the proposed development, and the mitigation measures that would be used to address those impacts.