Pier B rail project gains momentum with $283M grant

Pier B rail project has taken another funding step after the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners authorized a $283 million grant agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration.

The funding will go toward the Port of Long Beach’s $2.2 billion Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility, one of the port’s key rail infrastructure projects.

The grant was announced in 2023, and the Port of Long Beach later outlined it in its statement on the $283M Pier B grant agreement. It comes through the National Infrastructure Project Assistance program, known as Mega, which was created under the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The program is designed for large, complex infrastructure projects that are difficult to fund through standard channels and are expected to bring national or regional benefits in the economy, mobility or safety.

Pier B rail project moves forward with federal support

The Port of Long Beach has already committed $1.28 billion to the Pier B facility. That amount accounts for about 40% of the port’s $3.2 billion capital improvement plan for fiscal years 2026 through 2035.

Construction started in 2024, with completion planned for 2032. The project will expand the existing Pier B rail yard from 82 acres to 171 acres. It will also add a fueling and servicing area, along with a staging zone for assembling and breaking down trains.

Alameda Corridor link strengthens Port of Long Beach plans

The upgraded yard will connect with the Alameda Corridor, which links the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles through the Pacific Harbor Line. The Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility remains the central project named in the port’s rail yard expansion plan.

Port officials expect the project to more than triple annual on-dock rail cargo capacity. Capacity is projected to increase from 1.5 million TEUs to 4.7 million TEUs, giving the Port of Long Beach a larger rail-handling base once the project is completed.