October 10, 2017 The Honorable Elaine Chao Secretary of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, DC 20590 Re: 2017 TIGER Grant Application Green Port Gateway Phase 2: Terminal Island Wye Rail Improvements Dear Secretary Chao: I am writing in support of the Port of Long Beach s 2017 Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant application for $14.5 million to help fund its Green Port Gateway Phase 2: Terminal Island Wye Rail Improvements project. The Terminal Island Wye Rail Improvements will add 10,000 feet of new track and help the San Pedro Bay Port Complex (the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach) achieve its goal of moving 35 percent of goods by on-dock rail by 2035 to help mitigate the impact of the projected 40 percent growth in national freight movement. The proposed improvements will facilitate several critical rail operations, expand consumer choice in multimodal transportation, and potentially offset 300,000 truck trips per year by 2035. These improvements will help manage vehicle congestion on our local roadways and regional freeways, while increasing the capacity for goods to move through our gateway to markets across the nation and around the world. As part of the larger San Pedro Bay Ports Rail Enhancement Program with the Port of Los Angeles and the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority, this project is anticipated to reduce locomotive idling by 2,500 hours annually, offset freight-related congestion and degradation of the National Highway System, and improve the safety, environmental sustainability, and quality of life in the immediate region and beyond. In addition, the project will enhance both regional and national long-term economic competitiveness for U.S. businesses seeking better, more reliable access to global markets by speeding the flow of exports out of rural agricultural and manufacturing centers and facilitating the movement of essential imports into rural communities and urban centers. The Port of Long Beach is the second busiest port in the United States, a leading gateway for trade between the United States and Asia. Collectively, with the Port of Los Angeles, the San Pedro Bay Port Complex represents the ninth busiest port complex in the world. The Port of Long Beach supports over a million jobs nationally and generates billions of dollars in economic activity each year.
Thank you for providing your full and fair consideration of this local, regional, and nationally significant intermodal infrastructure project. Sincerely, Alan Lowenthal Member of Congress
STATE CAPITOL P.O. BOX 942849 SACRAMENTO, CA 94249-0070 (916) 319-2070 (916) 319-2170 FAX DISTRICT OFFICE 5000 East Spring Street, Suite 550 LONG BEACH, CA 90815 (562) 429-0470 (562) 429-7871 FAX PATRICK O DONNELL ASSEMBLYMEMBER, SEVENTIETH DISTRICT October 9, 2017 The Honorable Elaine Chao Secretary of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, DC 20590 Re: 2017 TIGER Grant Application Green Port Gateway Phase 2: Terminal Island Wye Rail Improvements Dear Secretary Chao: I would like to express my strong support for the Port of Long Beach s 2017 Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant application for $14.5 million to help fund its Green Port Gateway Phase 2: Terminal Island Wye Rail Improvements project. The Terminal Island Wye Rail Improvements will add 10,000 feet of new track and help the San Pedro Bay Port Complex achieve its goal of moving 35 percent of goods by on-dock rail by 2035 and also assist with mitigating the impacts of the projected 40 percent growth in national freight movement. The proposed improvements will facilitate several critical rail operations, expand consumer choice in multimodal transportation, and potentially offset 300,000 truck trips per year by 2035. These improvements are necessary for managing vehicle congestion on our local roadways and regional freeways, while increasing the capacity for goods to move through our gateway bound for markets across the nation and around the world. As part of the larger San Pedro Bay Ports Rail Enhancement Program with the Port of Los Angeles and the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority, this project is anticipated to reduce locomotive idling by 2,500 hours annually, offset freight-related congestion and degradation of the National Highway System, and improve the safety, environmental sustainability, and quality of life in the immediate region and beyond. In addition, the project will enhance both regional and national long-term economic competitiveness for US businesses seeking better, more reliable access to global markets. As the California State Assemblymember representing both the Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles, I urge your support of this application to help the Port of Long Beach remain strong, safe, and an environmental leader. Collectively, the Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles represent the ninth busiest port complex in the world. The Port of Long Beach supports over a million jobs nationally and generates billions of dollars in economic activity each year. I applaud its on-going effort to improve the infrastructure that supports
the health and livelihood of not only my constituents, but the Southern California region and beyond. Thank you for your consideration of this local, regional, and nationally significant rail infrastructure project. Sincerely, Patrick O Donnell Assemblymember, 70th District
October 6, 2017 MAYOR ROBERT GARCIA CITY OF LONG BEACH The Honorable Elaine Chao Secretary of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, DC 20590 Re: 2017 TIGER Grant Application Green Port Gateway Phase 2: Terminal Island Wye Rail Improvements Dear Secretary Chao: On behalf of the City of Long Beach, I am writing to support the Port of Long Beach s 2017 Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant application for $14.5 million to help fund its Green Port Gateway Phase 2: Terminal Island Wye Rail Improvements project. The Terminal Island Wye Rail Improvements will add 10,000 feet of new track and assist the San Pedro Bay Port Complex achieve its goal of moving 35 percent of goods by on-dock rail by 2035, which will help mitigate the impacts of the projected 40 percent growth in national freight movement. The proposed improvements will facilitate several critical rail operations, expand consumer choice in multimodal transportation, and potentially offset 300,000 truck trips per year by 2035. These improvements are necessary for managing vehicle congestion on our local roadways and regional freeways, while increasing the capacity for goods to move through our gateway bound for markets across the nation and around the world. As part of the larger San Pedro Bay Ports Rail Enhancement Program with the Port of Los Angeles and the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority, this project is anticipated to reduce locomotive idling by 2,500 hours annually; offset freight-related congestion and degradation of the National Highway System; and improve the safety, environmental sustainability, and quality of life in the immediate region and beyond. In addition, the project will enhance both regional and national long-term economic competitiveness for U.S. businesses seeking better, more reliable access to global markets by speeding the flow of exports out of rural agricultural and manufacturing centers and facilitating the movement of essential imports into rural communities and urban centers. The Port of Long Beach is the second busiest port in the U.S., a leading gateway for trade between the U.S. and Asia. Collectively, with the Port of Los Angeles, the San Pedro Bay Port Complex represents the ninth busiest port complex in the world. The Port of Long Beach supports over a million jobs nationally and generates billions of dollars in economic activity each year. Thank you for your consideration of this local, regional, and nationally significant rail infrastructure project. Sincerely, Mayor Robert Garcia City of Long Beach 562.570.6801 mayor@longbeach.gov @LongBeachMayor 333 West Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, California 90802
Coalition for America s Gateways and Trade Corridors AECOM Alameda Corridor-East Construction Authority Broward County s Port Everglades California Department of Transportation Cambridge Systematics, Inc. Canaveral Port Authority Cascadia Center CenterPoint Properties Trust Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning City of Chicago COMPASS Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho Dewberry Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana Florida Department of Transportation Florida East Coast Railway Florida Ports Council Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board (Washington State) Gateway Cities Council of Governments HERZOG HNTB Corporation Illinois Soybean Association Intermodal Association of North America Jacobs Engineering Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Majestic Realty Co. Maricopa Association of Governments Memphis Chamber of Commerce Metropolitan Transportation Commission Moffatt & Nichol October 06, 2017 The Honorable Elaine L. Chao Secretary United States Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Dear Secretary Chao: The Port of Long Beach (POLB) is seeking an award of $14.5 million in TIGER discretionary funds for its $29 million Green Port Gateway Phase 2: Terminal Island Wye Rail Improvements project. POLB is a long time member of the Coalition for America s Gateways and Trade Corridors (CAGTC), a national group of public and private industry representatives dedicated to improving our nation s freight infrastructure. The Green Port Gateway Phase 2: Terminal Island Wye Rail Improvements project will add 10,000 feet of new track and help the San Pedro Bay Port Complex achieve its goal of moving 35 percent of goods by on-dock rail by 2035. POLB reports that doing so will potentially offset 300,000 truck trips per year by 2035 and help mitigate the impacts of the estimated 40 percent growth in national freight movement. The project will also reduce locomotive idling by 2,500 hours annually and offset freight-related congestion and degradation of the National Highway System. A critical regional and national economic driver, POLB supports over 30,000 jobs in Long Beach, 316,000 jobs throughout Southern California and 1.4 million jobs across the United States. The project, part of POLB s rail improvement program, will increase the safety, environmental sustainability, and the quality of life in the immediate region and beyond. In addition, it will enhance both regional and national long-term economic competitiveness for U.S. businesses seeking better, more reliable access to global markets by speeding the flow of exports out of rural agricultural and manufacturing centers and facilitating the movement of essential imports into rural communities and urban centers. It will also facilitate several critical rail operations and expand consumer choice in multimodal transportation. We hope you ll consider POLB s Green Port Gateway Phase 2: Terminal Island Wye Rail Improvements project application. As an organization, we support investments in freight infrastructure and we encourage USDOT to continue investing in goods movement projects through the TIGER grant program. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you in advance for your consideration. Sincerely, Elaine Nessle Executive Director 1444 Eye Street, NW Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20005 202-828-9100 phone 202-797-0020 fax www.tradecorridors.org National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association NASCO North American Strategy for Competitiveness The Northwest Seaport Alliance Nossaman LLP Ohio Kentucky Indiana Regional Council of Governments Orange County Transportation Authority Oregon Department of Transportation Parsons Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Port Newark Container Terminal Port of Hueneme Port of Long Beach Port of Los Angeles Port Miami Port of Oakland Port of Pittsburgh Port of Portland, OR Port of San Diego Port Tampa Bay Port of Vancouver USA Puget Sound Regional Council RAILCET SANDAG - San Diego Association of Governments Southern California Association of Governments Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority Tennessee Department of Transportation Washington State Department of Transportation West Coast Corridor Coalition Will County Center for Economic Development WSP
October 18, 2017 The Honorable Elaine Chao Secretary of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, DC 20590 Re: 2017 TIGER Grant Application Green Port Gateway Phase 2: Terminal Island Wye Rail Improvements Dear Secretary Chao, On behalf of Mobility 21, I am writing to support the Port of Long Beach s 2017 Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant application for $14.5 million to help fund its Green Port Gateway Phase 2: Terminal Island Wye Rail Improvements project. This project is anticipated to reduce locomotive idling by 2,500 hours annually, offset freightrelated congestion and degradation of the National Highway System, and increase the safety, environmental sustainability, and the quality of life in the immediate region and beyond. In addition, the project will enhance our national long-term economic competitiveness for US businesses seeking better, more reliable access to global markets. Improvements proposed will result in the efficient transport of exports out of rural agricultural and manufacturing centers and facilitate the movement of essential imports into rural communities and urban centers. The Terminal Island Wye Rail Improvements will add 10,000 feet of new track and help the San Pedro Bay Port Complex achieve its goal of moving 35 percent of goods by on-dock rail by 2035 to help accommodate the projected 40 percent growth in national freight movement. The proposed improvements will facilitate several critical rail operations, expand consumer choice in multimodal transportation, and potentially offset 300,000 truck trips per year by 2035. These improvements are necessary for managing vehicle congestion on our local roadways and regional freeways, while increasing the capacity for goods to move through our gateway bound for markets across the nation and around the world. The Port of Long Beach is our nation s second busiest seaport, a leading gateway for trade between the United States and Asia. Collectively, with the Port of Los Angeles, the San Pedro Bay Port Complex is within the top ten busiest port complexes in the world. The Port of Long Beach supports over a million jobs nationally and generates billions of dollars in economic activity each year. The proposed Project is consistent with the policies and goals set forth in the TIGER program, particularly pertaining to goods movement infrastructure, rural benefits, job creation, safety, and quality of life. Mobility 21 supports this project and the improvements that it will bring to our region, state and nation. Thank you in advance for your full consideration of this important proposal. Sincerely, Jenny Larios Executive Director