Port of Long Beach Seeks Zero-Emission Systems

The Port of Long Beach is seeking ideas from transportation planners for developing zero-emission systems to shuttle containers between marine terminals and near-dock rail yards.

The goal is to replace diesel-powered trucks that shuttle thousands of containers a day to the Intermodal Container Transfer Facility with a system that generates no pollution.

"We plan to challenge current technology, and if we are successful, we will begin a new era in cleaner, faster freight movement with wide opportunities for applications nationwide," said Robert Kanter, the port's managing director of environmental affairs and planning.

Diesel trucks and some trucks powered by alternative fuels such as liquefied natural gas currently shuttle containers between the Los Angeles-Long Beach port complex and the ICTF, located about 4.5 miles from the harbor. The ICTF handles about 600,000 lifts per year and Union Pacific Railroad, its operator, has applied for permission to expand the capacity.

BNSF Railway is going through the permitting process to construct its Southern California Intermodal Gateway adjacent to the ICTF. That near-dock rail transfer yard would have a capacity of about 1 million lifts a year.

The ports, along with the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority, intend to encourage the development of new technology to shuttle containers to and from the near-dock rail yards.

Sept. 15 is the last day for submission of new technology concepts. Examples of ideas for a zero-emission container mover system include electric guideways, zero-emission trucks or electrified rail.

The project management team that issued the "request for concepts and solutions" includes representatives from both ports and ACTA. The teams will also solicit advice from a panel of outside, independent experts.

Contact Bill Mongelluzzo at bmongelluzzo@joc.com.