The Port of Los Angeles and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Los Angeles District have advanced the Berths 121-131 Container Terminal Redevelopment Project by releasing a joint Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/DEIR). The original Notice of Intent/Notice of Preparation was issued on 11 April 2014, with project scope and timeline evolving since then. The proposed redevelopment is designed to enhance container-handling efficiency and increase capacity across the terminal.
Core elements include dredging works and the disposal of dredged material, demolition and reconstruction of wharf infrastructure at Berths 126-129, and the relocation of existing cranes alongside the introduction of larger, next-generation units. Rail infrastructure also forms a central component of the plan. Plans include expansion of the on-dock rail yard, supported by electrically powered rail-mounted gantry cranes (RMG), and a new 30-year entitlement for terminal operations providing long-term certainty for future investment.
Compared to the original 2014 proposal, the current scheme is more streamlined, with revisions during the environmental review process refining the scope. For the Port of Los Angeles, the project forms part of a wider effort to modernise terminal infrastructure, improve cargo throughput, and support the transition towards lower-emission operations. Recently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers allocated approximately $70 million from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) to the Port of Los Angeles, targeting harbour maintenance, seismic resilience and navigational safety.
Key Takeaways:
1. Port of LA and USACE released joint DEIS/DEIR for the Berths 121-131 redevelopment project.
2. Project includes dredging, wharf reconstruction at Berths 126-129 and next-generation cranes.
3. On-dock rail yard expansion will be supported by electric rail-mounted gantry cranes.
4. Terminal operator will receive a new 30-year entitlement; the 2014 scope has been streamlined.
5. USACE separately allocated approximately $70 million from the HMTF for harbour maintenance.
