BNSF Applauds Los Angeles Harbor Commission Recommendation to Approve Southern California International Gateway Project as Vote for Greener Environment and Jobs

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BNSF Railway today called the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners decision to recommend approval of the Southern California International Gateway (SCIG) project a significant vote for both a greener environment and jobs.

“We appreciate all the support today from a wide range of stakeholders and stand ready to invest $500 million to build this state-of-the-art facility and bring jobs, air quality and traffic benefits to Southern California while helping keep the San Pedro ports competitive.”

“The Commissioners’ vote today validates that building SCIG is the right choice for green growth in Los Angeles and will be a new environmental model for the rest of the country,” said Matthew K. Rose, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BNSF. “We appreciate all the support today from a wide range of stakeholders and stand ready to invest $500 million to build this state-of-the-art facility and bring jobs, air quality and traffic benefits to Southern California while helping keep the San Pedro ports competitive.”

The Los Angeles City Council is expected to review and vote on the project in the near future.

While eliminating millions of truck miles up and down the 710 Freeway, BNSF will clean up an existing industrial site and replace it with a new intermodal facility that will set a new benchmark for future facilities in California. SCIG will feature wide-span all-electric cranes, ultra-low emission switching locomotives and low-emission rail yard equipment. In addition to these innovations, BNSF has committed to changing the status quo for how trucks serve intermodal facilities by allowing only trucks meeting the Port’s Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) goal of 2010 or newer trucks to transport cargo between the marine terminals and the facility. By 2026, 90 percent of the truck fleet will be LNG or equivalent emissions vehicles. Trucks will be required to avoid residential areas by traveling on designated, industrial routes with GPS tracking to ensure compliance. BNSF has also agreed to contribute up to $3 million to the joint Port of Los Angeles-Port of Long Beach Technology Advancement Program to further the development of zero-emission goods-movement technologies.

BNSF has committed to create a local jobs training program and offer priority hiring for new jobs to qualified local job applicants. BNSF has concluded a Project Labor Agreement worth $255 million with the Building and Construction Trades Council that will result in approximately 1,500 jobs per year during construction. By 2036, IHS Global Insight forecasts the facility will create 22,000 new direct and indirect jobs in Southern California, including 14,000 new direct and indirect jobs in Los Angeles.

About BNSF

BNSF Railway is one of North America's leading freight transportation companies operating on 32,500 route miles of track in 28 states and two Canadian provinces. BNSF is one of the top transporters of consumer goods, grain and agricultural products and industrial goods such as petroleum, chemicals, housing materials, food and beverages. BNSF's shipments help feed, clothe, supply, and power American homes and businesses every day. BNSF and its employees have developed one of the most technologically advanced, and efficient railroads in the industry. We work continuously to improve the value of the safety, service, energy, and environmental benefits we provide to our customers and the communities we serve. You can learn more about BNSF at www.BNSF.com. Learn more about SCIG on Facebook, Twitter and at BNSFConnects.com.

Project Fact Sheet Southern California International Gateway (SCIG)
Project Purpose:	Create comparable near-dock capacity for all Class I railroads to accommodate anticipated port growth while reducing energy consumption, highway congestion and environmental emissions, increasing fluidity and throughput of on-dock rail facilities, increasing use of the Alameda Corridor, and providing competitive choices for shippers and port customers consistent with the Port of Los Angeles’ adopted Port Rail Policy.
Main Facility Location:	Existing industrial sites of approximately 156 acres with the primary project area between Sepulveda Blvd, Pacific Coast Highway, the Dominguez Channel and the Terminal Island Freeway.
Private Investment:	$500 million of private investment (including in excess of $100 million in increased cost due to investments in green technology).
Workforce:	IHS Global Insight forecasts the facility will create 22,000 new direct and indirect jobs in Southern California, including 14,000 new direct and indirect jobs in Los Angeles by 2036. Approximately 1,500 jobs annually (direct and secondary) could be added to the regional economy during the construction phase. BNSF has concluded a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) worth $255 million with the Building Trades Council for the construction of the facility. BNSF’s operating contractor will give qualified local residents first priority for all new jobs at SCIG. BNSF will fund a workforce-training program to assist area residents in obtaining these jobs. The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO adopted a resolution supporting SCIG as a direct result of the jobs and economic benefit it will provide.
Traffic Benefits:	The EIR found that SCIG will have a positive impact on traffic, both locally and regionally, by eliminating more than 1.5 million trucks from the 710, reducing congestion along the 710 corridor and around BNSF’s Hobart Yard in Commerce.
BNSF Commitments:	BNSF will participate in zero emissions container movement system research, including: Funding up to $3 million for purposes of developing a zero emission container movement system. Working with both the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles, through the joint ports’ Technology Advancement Program, to advance zero emission technologies. Only trucks exceeding the Port’s Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) goal of 2010 or newer trucks will be used to transport cargo between the marine terminals and the facility. By 2023, 75% of the trucks moving cargo between SCIG and the marine terminals will be LNG or equivalent emissions vehicles. By 2026, 90% of the truck fleet serving SCIG will meet this requirement. Trucks will be required to avoid residential areas by traveling on designated, industrial routes with GPS tracking to ensure adherence. Trucks will enter and queue along the western edge of the facility using automated gates to minimize idling. BNSF will build a dedicated ramp from PCH into SCIG and will have an improved ramp from the facility to PCH off of the south service road. SCIG will incorporate low-glare, directional crane lighting, perimeter lighting, and roadway lighting. Subject to obtaining right-of-way from the City of Long Beach, BNSF will plant extensive landscaping around the perimeter of the facility. Subject to obtaining right-of-way from the City of Long Beach, BNSF will fund the construction of a wall along the eastern side of the facility. BNSF has committed to significant voluntary emissions reductions related to line haul locomotives calling at SCIG while on port properties. These emissions will be equivalent to a fleet of at least 50% Tier 4 line-haul locomotives and 40% Tier 3 line-haul locomotives by 2023, based on the commercial availability of operationally proven Tier 4 locomotives in 2015. Tier 4 locomotives are a new technology that does not exist yet and are not expected to be available until 2015. This emissions reduction may also be achieved by reductions in air emissions anywhere in the South Coast Air Basin equivalent to this goal through any other alternative means. BNSF will evaluate and implement new technologies as feasible periodically throughout the term of the lease.
Fuel Efficiency:	Trains are three times more fuel efficient than trucks handling equivalent loads. On average, a BNSF train can move one ton of freight about 500 miles on one gallon of diesel fuel. One double stack intermodal train can take 280 or more trucks off the highways.
Learn More:	BNSFConnects.com facebook.com/southerncaliforniainternationalgateway twitter.com/bnsfconnects