Building and Maintaining Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure in Long Beach

On Friday, February 23rd, a group comprising 24 USC students and research faculty had the privilege of touring the California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 7’s maintenance facility, focusing on the Long Beach International Gateway Bridge and the Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT). We extend our gratitude to our gracious hosts for generously sharing their invaluable hands-on expertise and suggestions.

The main objective of this technical study tour was to observe and glean insights into the operational intricacies of these critical transportation infrastructures within the Port of Long Beach (POLB). Our intention was to learn “best practices” in operating and maintaining transportation assets that can serve as a foundational framework for our future careers in achieving a more sustainable community, addressing one component at a time. Representing a diverse academic discipline spanning the Viterbi School of Engineering, Price School of Public Policy, Keck School of Medicine, and Iovine and Young Academy, students ranging from freshmen to master's candidates offered unique perspectives and insights on sustainability, drawing from their respective academic training and experiences. 

Background about the New Long Beach Bridge
Before embarking on the field trip, several students took part in a panel discussion centered on the POLB Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project. Moderated by Professor Eric Shen (former POLB Transportation Planning Director), students engaged in candid conversations with Mr. Malcolm Dougherty (former Director of Caltrans) and Mr. Vince Mammano (former California Division Administrator of FHWA/USDOT). Throughout this enlightening discussion, students delved into the intricacies of the project, gaining invaluable insights into its funding, development process, and the Design-Build construction method for completing this $1.47 billion nationally significant investment.

Mr. Dougherty and Mr. Mammano emphasized that beyond engineering, garnering community support, orchestrating stakeholder coordination, and adeptly resolving conflicts were paramount to the successful completion of this challenging project. The new state-owned Long Beach International Gateway Bridge opened to traffic in October 2020, while the old city-owned Gerald Desmond Bridge was demolished by August 2023. As part of the project agreements, POLB committed to financing Caltrans' operating and maintenance (O&M) costs for the initial 30 years, now integrated into the Interstate 710 route.

Designed for one hundred years, the cable-stayed bridge has three travel lanes in each direction with safety shoulders, plus a protected bikeway/pedestrian path on the south side. The new bridge allows for just over 200 feet of clearance for clean and large vessels to access POLB Back Channel.

Bridge Maintenance and Road Waste Management
Caltrans' Long Beach Gateway Bridge Maintenance Facility is located at 1776 Pier D Street, directly beneath the bridge decks. Our technical tour commenced with an informative presentation, coordinated by Mr. Shawn Silva and the maintenance crew, shedding light on various standards and procedures to address environmental challenges. The presentation encompassed three primary areas: routing inspections and waste management, emergency response protocols, and the management of hazardous materials (HAZMAT) and associated byproducts.

Briefing at the Caltrans LB Bridge Maintenance Facility

Following the presentation, students had a unique opportunity to ride in a small elevator nestled inside of a bridge column, ascending to the aerial deck nearly 200 feet above ground level. Beneath the bridge steel decks, students had a remarkable view of several seismic dampers positioned to reduce movements between the two roadway sections. Engineered to withstand seismic events, these dampers are ingeniously designed to fracture under intense stress during a significant earthquake and mitigate strain on the bridge structure.

The new Long Beach Bridge is an engineering marvel.

Nearly 200 feet above ground, we try not to be afraid.

Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT)
POLB conceptualize the Middle Harbor Redevelopment Project (LBCT) as early as in 2001, with the ambitious goal of consolidating two aging container terminals into a single, state-of-the-art facility characterized by full automation and sustainable practices. Construction began in 2011. Over the next nearly 10 years, major construction took place around the fully functioning marine terminal operations. The $1.2-billion project was fully completed in December 2020.

The terminal ownership underwent a significant change while the redevelopment project was being constructed. LBCT was originally owned by Orient Overseas (International) Limited (OOIL). In 2019, OOIL was mandated by the U.S. government to sell LBCT in accordance with the National Security Agreement established with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. LBCT is now under the ownership of Macquarie Infrastructure Partners.

The Most Advanced and Greenest Container Terminal
After concluding the tour at Caltrans bridge maintenance facility, students traveled to LBCT Office located at 1171 Pier F Avenue and met with Ms. Bonnie Nixon, Director of 
Sustainability. Students learned about LBCT’s emissions reductions goals, and the progress made in adopting zero-emissions fleet and infrastructure. Through the windows with beautiful blue sky and harbor as the backdrop, students witnessed containers being unloaded from two vessels onto driver-less Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), then transferred to the stacking yard for further sorting. These highly choreographed and efficient cargo movements help eliminate Scope 1 emissions. As Southern California Edison increases renewable energy, LBCT will also reduce Scope 2 emissions. Lastly, Ms. Nixon discussed investing in carbon offsets that are meaningful to the terminal, like sustainable steel. Offsets will help reduce Scope 3 emissions as shippers also work to lower emissions.

Briefing by Ms. Bonnie Nixon, LBCT

Environmental engineering senior, Akasha Fobbs, inquired about the effect of zero-emissions infrastructure and equipment on the workforce, including longshoremen. In response, Ms. Nixon shared LBCT’s commitment to preparing employees for the transition to zero emissions through training programs and strong relationships with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). 

Students were very excited about Ms. Nixon’s background in sustainability and finished the day with questions about her career path. Environmental engineering senior, Lauren Anderson, captures our gratitude with her praise of Ms. Nixon’s “decades of sustainability experience and exciting and informative presentation.”