BNSF Railway - SCIG - Communities Matter

One of the best ways to decrease harbor congestion and air pollution is to use trains rather than trucks to move cargo. That is why we support the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) proposal to build a rail terminal a short hop from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

- Long Beach Press-Telegram editorial
May 10, 2007
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Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Mayor, City of Los Angeles
200 N. Spring Street, 3rd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Geraldine Knatz, Ph.D
Executive Director, POLA
425 South Palos Verdes Street
San Pedro, CA 90731

Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners
President S. David Freeman
Vice President Jerilyn López Mendoza
Kaylynn L. Kim
Douglas P. Krause
Joseph R. Radisich
425 South Palos Verdes Street
San Pedro, CA 90731

RE: Grow the Port with Green Projects Including the Southern California International Gateway

Dear Mayor Villaraigosa, Dr. Knatz and Commissioners:

On behalf of ,

I am writing to urge you to support the Southern California International Gateway (SCIG), BNSF Railway’s proposed near-dock rail facility, and publish the draft EIR as soon as possible.

As you know, the Port of Los Angeles ranks as the nation’s busiest port and the Port of Long Beach is the nation’s second busiest.  Together they represent more than $300 billion in U.S. trade and 3.3 million jobs nationwide.  The ports are also major drivers of our local economy, accounting for 740,000 plus jobs in Southern California, the second largest source of jobs in the greater five-county region.

The Ports’ cargo volume has tripled since 1995 and is expected to double again by 2015.  With this growth, however, have come challenges.  Traffic and pollution along the Interstate 710 Freeway corridor threaten the physical and economic health of not only neighborhoods along the corridor, but the entire region.

The Ports must grow green now to ensure the continued economic development of Southern California and the environmental health of the region.  SCIG is an innovative solution to green growth and is aligned with Mayor Villaraigosa’s and Mayor Foster’s efforts to improve port efficiency.

As detailed in the Ports’ Rail Master Plan, on-dock rail is preferred, but there is simply not enough on-dock capacity currently or in the near future to handle the amount of cargo that is expected and SCIG is right solution for the Ports.  It will utilize existing capacity in the Alameda Corridor and remove an estimated one million trucks off the 710 Freeway, improving air quality in the region.

In addition to BNSF's original commitments, which include electric cranes, LNG or equivalent yard tractors and low-emission switch engines – making the facility the cleanest in the United States – BNSF has committed to the following enhancements in connection with SCIG:

• 100 percent of the truck fleet servicing SCIG will be 2007 or newer upon facility opening -- exceeding compliance with the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP).

• Trucks serving SCIG will be limited to traveling on specified non-residential truck routes and be equipped with global positioning satellite (GPS) devices to monitor and enforce compliance.

• BNSF's operating contractor will give qualified local residents first priority for all new job offers at SCIG.

• BNSF will fund a workforce-training program to assist area residents in obtaining these jobs.

• BNSF will plant an "urban forest" at the site to improve air quality and aesthetics.
BNSF will fund construction of a sound wall east of SCIG to diminish current freeway noise and looks forward to working with local residents to determine its location.

supports green growth. SCIG is an ideal example of green growth and we urge you to move ahead with the publication of the EIR for this facility.

Sincerely,

Name:
Address:
City: State: Zip:
Email:

CC:

Councilmember Janice Hahn
City of Los Angeles
City Hall, Room 435
200 N. Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Mayor Bob Foster
City of Long Beach
333 W. Ocean Boulevard, 14th Floor
Long Beach, CA 90802

Helmi Hisserich
Office of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
200 N. Spring Street, Room 1300
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Ricardo Hong
Harbor District Office
638 Beacon Street, Room 301
San Pedro, CA 90731