TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney to draft a resolution calling for the Intermodal Container Transfer Facility Joint Powers Authority to include a Zero-Emissions Goods Movement System option in its anticipated Environmental Impact Report analyzing the potential expansion of the facility.
DISCUSSION
Green growth. That has long been the dream for the future of goods movement. We know what green growth is: the ability to move goods swiftly through our region, and thus preserve and expand the jobs that come with the industry, without sacrificing the health and well-being of our residents. With expansion plans of near-dock rail being considered, it is now time to make this dream a reality.
For many years, the reality has been that the growth of goods movement has brought regional benefits, while the local communities proximate to the industry have borne the brunt of the costs. The increased rates of cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses close to goods movement facilities are well documented, as are the economic benefits to the region and nation that such goods movement provides. Much of the negative environmental effect, particularly in the greater Long Beach/San Pedro/Wilmington area, stems from a simple fact: our containers are moved back and forth from the ports to the near-dock facility by diesel trucks. Thousands of trucks congest local roadways and emit particulate matter day after day to make this four-mile trip each way to and from the rail facilities. While considering expansion of these facilities, we must pause and ask a fundamental question: is there a better way to move these goods?
There is. The technology currently exists to move containers to near-dock facilities without polluting our communities. Such zero-emissions goods movement technology represents a true paradigm shift, as we would be able to move goods quickly and efficiently to market without sacrificing the health of our neighborhoods. Additionally, we would increase the ...
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