ALAMEDA CORRIDOR READY FOR SERVICE APRIL 15

ALAMEDA CORRIDOR READY FOR SERVICE APRIL 15    The Alameda Corridor, which promises to significantly ease rail congestion through the busy Southern California seaports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, will be open for business on April 15.
   The $2.4 billion, 20-mile rail corridor includes a series of bridges, underpasses, and overpasses to separate rail traffic from street traffic. It’s considered one of the nation’s largest public works projects.
   “By consolidating four railroad branch lines serving the ports, the Alameda Corridor eliminates more than 200 at-grade crossings where rail and street traffic conflict, thereby easing traffic congestion and significantly reducing air and noise pollution from idling trains, trucks and cars,” the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority said.
   Today, there are 20 to 35 daily trains operating through the ports on the branch lines, averaging 10 to 20 mph. The Alameda Corridor is designed to accommodate the 100 daily train trips through the ports, with an average speed of 30 to 40 mph.
   The corridor authority is jointly governed by the cities of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and the port authorities of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Once in operation, the corridor will be operated through partnership of the two seaports, and the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway and Union Pacific railroads.
   The Alameda Corridor was funded through a combination of public and private sources, including $1.16 billion in revenue bonds sold by the corridor authority, a $400 million loan from the Transportation Department and $394 million from the ports.
   “Bond debt service will be paid with fees collected from the railroads for the transportation of cargo containers outside of Southern California,” the corridor authority said.