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FuturePorts News

FuturePorts is recipient of US EPA Environmental Justice Achievement Award FuturePorts was recently notified by the US Environmental Protection Agency that the organization was named as a recipient of the US EPA's Environmental Justice Achievement Award for its role as a stakeholder in the Clean Trucks Program. As a participant in the Clean Air Action Plan Stakeholder Group, FuturePorts has provided input and represented its members in the process of developing the Clean Trucks Program. For more information on the award, visit the US EPA website

Moving Green on LBPost.com
Public policy expert (and FuturePorts member) Nancy Pfeffer explores the environmental impact of transportation, both moving goods and moving people.

Official Media Sponsor "Marine Business for the Operations Sector"

Hearings Set for Bridge Environmental Report
Public invited to comment on plan to replace aging Gerald Desmond Bridge

February 4, 2010

The Port of Long Beach today released the revised draft environmental impact report for public comment on its next major improvement proposal -- replacing the aging Gerald Desmond Bridge.
 
The Gerald Desmond Bridge is an important transportation link both for the local seaports and for the commuters of Southern California. However, the 40-year-old bridge is obsolete and deteriorating. The revised draft environmental impact report, or EIR, outlines the Port’s plans to increase safety and improve navigation with a replacement bridge.  For more information on the project, click here..

The revised draft environmental impact report will be available for public review and comment for 45 days. The Port will host two public hearings to allow for comment on the proposal:

• Wednesday, Feb. 17, 6 p.m. (presentations begin at 6:30 p.m.) at Long Beach City Hall Council Chambers, 333 W. Ocean Blvd.
• Wednesday, Feb. 24, 6 p.m. (presentations begin at 6:30 p.m.) at Silverado Park, 1545 W. 31st St.

At each hearing, Port staff will make a presentation explaining the project and draft EIR, and then invite members of the public to comment. The Port is also accepting written comments on the EIR, sent to Richard Cameron, Director of Environmental Planning, Port of Long Beach, 925 Harbor Plaza, Long Beach, CA 90802, or by e-mail to Cameron@polb.com. Comments are due by 4:30 p.m., March 18, 2010

For a project overview and links to the complete draft EIR, please visit www.polb.com/bridge.

Download the Fact Sheet
Download the Gerald Desmond Bridge Q&A
Gerald Desmond Bridge Draft EIR
Video about the Gerald Desmond Bridge on YouTube

Gov. Schwarzenegger Tours BNSF Railway's Hydrogen Fuel Cell Switch Locomotive

January 28, 2010:  Elizabeth Warren, executive director of FuturePorts, attended the press conference at the BNSF Hobart Intermodal Rail Yard in the City of Commerce on Thursday morning.  She was also part of a contingent of industry representatives that toured the Alameda Corridor on passenger cars.  Click here for the text of the Governor's speech.

For more information, go to www.bnsf.com.

Hydrogen-powered locomotive rolls into San Pedro

By Donna Littlejohn Staff Writer
Daily
Posted: 01/28/2010 06:38:13 PM PST

An experimental, hydrogen fuel cell switch locomotive rolled into San Pedro on Thursday after an unveiling in the City of Commerce.

BNSF Railway, through a partnership with the U.S. Defense Department, built the prototype locomotive powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. It is believed to be the first of its kind in the world.

Hydrogen is among the clean technologies being explored as a cleaner way to move goods.

The locomotive is not dependent on oil for fuel and could serve as a mobile backup power source for military and civilian disaster relief efforts.

After speeches in the City of Commerce, dignitaries rode in passenger cars linked to the locomotive south to the Port of Los Angeles, passing by Ports O' Call Village and the Los Angeles Maritime Museum.

California Governor Visits Commerce Mechanical Facility

2010-01-28

BNSF hosted California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger at the Commerce Mechanical Facility during an event on Thursday, Jan. 28. Matt Rose, BNSF chairman, president and chief executive officer, introduced the governor and met with city and state officials also in attendance. The event highlighted many of BNSF's locomotive technologies, ranging from one of the new diesel-electric road units to the experimental hydrogen fuel cell switch locomotive.

"Through a unique partnership with California, the railroads have embarked on an aggressive program to substantially reduce emissions from locomotives and rail yards. California communities are breathing cleaner air as a result of this cooperative relationship," Rose said.

BNSF and Vehicle Projects developed the experimental hydrogen fuel cell switch locomotive at BNSF facilities in Topeka, Kan. The experimental switch locomotive has the potential to reduce air pollution, is not dependent on oil for fuel, and could serve as a mobile backup power source for military and civilian disaster relief efforts. The U.S. Army, and, by extension, the U.S. Department of Defense, also are partners in development of the locomotive.

"We also have been testing many ultra-low emitting locomotives in the last few years to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency, including GenSet locomotives, liquid natural gas locomotives, SmartBurn locomotives and battery hybrid locomotive technologies," Rose said.

Speaking specifically about California operations, Rose pointed out that on a typical day, BNSF operates more than 75 freight trains in the Los Angeles Basin, many on tracks BNSF shares with Amtrak and Metrolink.

"Gov. Schwarzenegger and his administration understand the benefits of rail and have worked cooperatively with us to build upon the environmental advantages of rail to help reduce emissions and improve air quality," Rose said.

Southern California National Freight Gateway Collaboration - January 25-26, 2010

SCAG hosted the Southern California National Freight Gateway Collaboration on January 25-26, 2010, which was attended by over 55 industry representatives from the state and around the region. Click on the links below to download the documents from the meeting. Or, click on the link below to SCAG’s Goods Movement Webpage where you can find electronic versions of the meeting materials.

1. Meeting Agenda
2. Regional Overview Presentation given
3. Comprehensive Regional Goods Movement Plan and Implementation Strategy Presentation
4. Efficiently Addressing Environmental Concerns - Discussion Outline
5. Legislative Discussion Outline
6. Assessment of Environmental Processes for Goods Movement - Executive Summary
7. Meeting Outcomes created as part of the Collaboration Meeting on January 25-26

Link to Meeting Materials: SCAG Goods Movement Webpage – Southern California National Freight Gateway Collaboration

FuturePorts is the organization bringing together business, community and government leaders to work toward an integrated approach to resolving port, industry and community concerns.

As the two largest ports in the nation, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach generate $200 billion annually in throughput, and handle 43% of all waterborne U.S. trade and 60% of all imports from Asia.  Hundreds of thousands of jobs have already been created in Southern California by ever-increasing port activity. With trade volume projected to triple over the next 20 years, Southern California has an unprecedented opportunity to solidify its position as the nation's pre-eminent trade center. However, a number of challenges threaten the ports' and industries' ability to sustain their role as critical economic engines in California and the nation.  

• Congestion in the region continues to increase, and the construction of necessary improvements to alleviate bottlenecks is hindered by funding shortfalls and delays in the decision-making process.
• Air quality and other environmental challenges are jeopardizing the timely completion of much-needed infrastructure improvements.  
• Area residents are increasingly concerned about the impact of port activity on their communities, and struggle to understand the beneficial and necessary role our ports play in the local econom

The time is now for a dynamic and visionary organization to secure a vibrant economic and environmental future for the ports, their businesses and their surrounding communities. Currently, there is no single advocacy organization focused on solving goods movement problems using a multi-stakeholder and regional perspective on the ports and shipping supply chain.  FuturePorts will identify growth and environmental challenges and advocate strongly for solutions through its Strategic Action Plan.

Download the FuturePorts brochure.. (.pdf)