South Coast AQMD has been awarded roughly $76 million by the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) for zero-emission projects that will help transform the goods movement sector in the San Pedro Bay Port corridor.
More than 80% of air pollution in Southern California is associated with mobile sources including trucks, trains, planes, and ocean-going vessels. As such, transitioning to zero emission technologies is essential to reducing air pollution. The projects developed by this funding will create 7,600 jobs and reduce 1.7 tons of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and 632 tons of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)—a precursor to smog.
South Coast AQMD will use the more than $76 million in CalSTA’s Port and Freight Infrastructure Program to demonstrate one first-of-its-kind hydrogen fuel cell locomotive that will operate in and around Southern California. The project will also install 376 Direct Current Fast Chargers and 19 hydrogen refueling dispensers across seven locations for trucks used for goods movement.
This project will increase throughput to California ports by demonstrating a locomotive that can haul 50 percent more freight per locomotive and deploy additional faster charging options for more than 2,100 zero-emission trucks, allowing more time to be spent on moving freight instead of recharging. South Coast AQMD is working with Wabtec Corporation and Prologis Mobility to deliver the fuel cell train and supporting infrastructure by 2027 and then demonstrate it for 12 months.
The 2022 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) shows that to achieve federal air quality standards, we need to transition rapidly to zero-emission technologies in the goods movement sector to reduce PM2.5 and NOx emissions. South Coast AQMD is focused on the statewide goal of 100% zero-emissions in the transportation sector in part by facilitating and managing public and private partnerships.
The Port and Freight Infrastructure (PFI) Program seeks to improve the capacity, safety, efficiency, and resiliency of goods movement to, from and through California’s maritime ports. PFI aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and negative economic impacts and improve public health for the many environmental justice communities adjacent to the corridors and facilities used for goods movement, while promoting high-road port, freight, and construction sector jobs.
For more information on the Port and Freight Infrastructure Program, visit https://calsta.ca.gov/subject-areas/freight-rail-border.