HDR, an architectural, engineering and consulting firm, has been selected to lead the final design for a $870 million rail project at the Port of Long Beach in Southern California.
The Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility Project was designed to reduce bottlenecks and streamline rail operations at Long Beach, the second-busiest container port in the United States. The project will expand the port’s capability for loading shipping containers directly on rail cars instead of being loaded onto trucks for short-haul trips.
“This is visionary,” remarked Mario Cordero, the port’s executive director. “The delivery of containers to and from ships by train is the most sustainable and efficient way to move cargo in and out of the port. Each train eliminates as many as 750 truck trips, speeding the flow of goods and cutting traffic on roadways.”
In July, the City of Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners approved the $38.7 million, five-year engineering design services contract with HDR. The firm will lead the project’s design, in addition to conducting site investigations, traffic studies, program sequencing, and structural and lighting analyses.
According to HDR, the selection marks a major milestone for a project that has been in the works for years.
“This is a game-changer,” said Tom Kim, HDR’s senior vice president. “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.”
