Rail Expansion Hearing Wednesday

By Kristopher Hanson on September 15, 2009 2:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Port authorities are hosting a forum on plans to expand and modernize a port-adjacent railyard south of Anaheim Street.

The plan calls for a massive overhaul of the mismatch of track and switching yards roughly bordered by Ninth and Anaheim streets and the Terminal Island (47) and Long Beach (710) freeways (see map here).

The hearing is the first step in a project Long Beach port authorities hope to launch within the next few years - an ambitious project to increase on-dock rail usage and ease congestion, reduce truck traffic and purchase property to stage rail car storage.

The 6 p.m. hearing will be held at the port's headquarters, 925 Harbor Plaza in Long Beach (follow the signs crossing over Queensway Bridge).

To see the full proposal, visit www.polb.com/railNOP.

Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional politics. A newcomer to the Press-
Telegram, he previously has covered local and state government and politics in San Diego County, Mexico and his home state of Kansas.

E-mail Paul at paul.eakins@presstelegram.com.

Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and pitfalls and trade trends of America’s largest port. He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”, appearing Tuesdays, and also produces an occassional video and column titled “On The Job,” which follows the hard-working men and women who keep Southern California’s economy humming.

E-mail Kris at kristopher.hanson@
presstelegram.com.

Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
Telegram in April 2002 as a beat reporter, covering the cities of Lakewood, Bellflower and Paramount. She now covers business, specifically redevelopment, tourism and small businesses. She also writes Eye on Redevelopment, a monthly column that appears in the Business Monday section.