TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file a presentation from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and the Air Quality Management District (AQMD) about the planned demonstration and deployment of zero emissions goods movement in the Regional Transportation Plan.
DISCUSSION
On April 4th, SCAG approved the Regional Transportation Plan, which is a comprehensive planning document for the six county region including Los Angeles County. A key part of this plan affecting Long Beach is the demonstration and implementation of a zero emissions goods movement system in Long Beach along the Terminal Island freeway or an alternate route (such as Alameda Street). The plan calls for the system to be demonstrated in 2013, and fully implemented by 2015. (See the attached document for further discussion of the plan.)
If implemented as planned, wayside electric power (such as currently used by the Blue Line in Long Beach and buses in San Francisco) would be installed from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles to the near-dock Union Pacific rail facility on Sepulveda next to West Long Beach. Freight would be moved from the ports to the rail facility on retrofitted trucks able to use electric power, resulting in zero emissions to the surrounding community. This would finally allow economic growth at our ports to come without hurting the health or quality of life of our residents.
Given the importance of zero emissions goods movement to the economy and well being of our region, it is requested that AQMD and SCAG make a short presentation to Council discussing how this project will be realized in the upcoming years.
FISCAL IMPACT
This item has no significant fiscal impact.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Councilmember James Johnson
Seventh District
Councilmember Steven Neal
Ninth District