The Port of Long Beach has released a revised draft supplemental environmental impact report for its Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility project, reflecting proposed design modifications to one of the port’s major rail infrastructure developments.v
Announced on October 23, 2026, the recirculated environmental study examines changes involving rail infrastructure, utility connections, construction staging areas and nearby road facilities.
The most significant proposed modification involves the complete demolition of the Berths D52–D54 transit shed to accommodate the realignment of Pico Avenue.
The building has been determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, making its proposed demolition an important consideration in the project’s environmental review.
The latest study follows an earlier draft released in September 2025, which examined the possibility of reconfiguring the existing transit shed rather than removing it entirely.
However, subsequent engineering assessments determined that partial demolition would not be economically or physically feasible without damaging the remaining structure.
The Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility is designed to improve the movement of containers between marine terminals and the national rail network, reducing reliance on trucks for cargo transportation.
According to the Port of Long Beach, the completed facility is expected to triple its on-dock rail capacity and reduce rail dwell times from approximately four days to 24 hours by 2032.
These improvements are intended to strengthen the port’s operational efficiency, support cargo growth and contribute to its environmental objectives.
Construction of the wider Pier B project began in 2024, with completion currently expected in 2032.
The proposed modifications outlined in the revised environmental study also include adjustments to railway tracks, installation or removal of utilities, additional construction staging and equipment areas, pavement restriping and signage changes.
Sections of Grant Street and Southern Pacific Drive in Wilmington would also be closed as part of the proposed changes.
The modifications are being assessed through the supplemental environmental review process and should not be considered completed construction activities.
The Port of Long Beach has opened a new public consultation period to gather feedback on the revised environmental assessment.
A virtual public meeting is scheduled for November 18, 2026, allowing stakeholders and community members to review the proposed modifications and provide input.
Written comments will be accepted until December 9, 2026.
The revised draft supplemental environmental impact report is available through the port’s environmental review website.
The Pier B project forms part of the Port of Long Beach’s broader infrastructure development programme, which aims to strengthen freight rail connectivity and accommodate future container traffic growth.
By increasing the proportion of containers transported directly by rail, the port expects to reduce truck movements and improve the efficiency of cargo transfers between its marine terminals and inland destinations.
The latest environmental review represents a further planning step for the ongoing project, rather than the announcement of a new rail development or additional capacity beyond the existing Pier B programme.
