New Alameda Corridor:
Bold New Rail Corridor

by Paul Maneglsdorf, TRA Board Member

April 12, 2002 will be remembered in the annals of U.S. Transportation history as a singular date. It marks the ceremonial opening of the Alameda Corridor linking downtown Los Angeles with the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. Operations began on April 15th.

After 20 years of planning and 5 years under construction, the corridor (50 feet wide, 30 feet deep, and 10 miles long) is receiving container train traffic.

As many as 110 trains trans daily will use the corridor and a third track can be added as traffic increases. Train speeds will be 30 mph cutting the running time from two hours to 45 minutes.

Eight cities along the route had serious traffic congestion as a result of the four rail lines and two hundred grade crossings. The new freight throughway will significantly improve the traffic flow as well as railroad infrastructure.

$16 billion in revenue bonds were sold by the Alameda County Transportation Authority to fund the project. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach contributed $394 million. A loan from the U.S. Department of Transportation is the only public money used for the project. The corridor is a fine example of public / private partnership.

To retire the bonds a $15.00 per container fee will be charged. Lesser fees for empties and box cars will also apply.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific will jointly operate the corridor with the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

BNSF Chairman, Matt Rose, called the corridor an example of how to deal with congestion and economic growth.

Could this project signal a new era of railroad building and expansion?