After being in the works for a decade, BNSF Railway Co.’s Southern California International Gateway project at the Port of Los Angeles is now facing fresh delays.
Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Barry Goode ruled last week that the Port of Los Angeles failed to perform an adequate environmental analysis of the proposed $500 million rail yard that BNSF argues will reduce truck traffic on freeways and provide a much needed railway infrastructure. The judge ordered a new environmental review.
Residents and activists argued the project, if approved, would put an unfair burden on communities in West Long Beach, adjacent to the port, by creating pollution, noise, and traffic near day care centers, schools, and homes. The city of Long Beach and other parties had sued the port arguing that the existing environmental impact report did not comply with the California Environmental Quality Act.
“The City of Long Beach and the West Long Beach community are concerned about noise and air pollution,” said Rachel Hooper, an attorney from San Francisco-based Shute Mihaly & Weinberger who represented the city in its litigation. “We hope the port will review what the judge has ordered.”
If approved, the project would allow BNSF to build an intermodal rail yard four miles away from the Port of Los Angeles, generating 2 million truck trips and 3,000 train trips a year. In addition, the Fort Worth, Texas, railway firm would have the right to operate the rail yard for the next 50 years.
Port of L.A. spokeswoman Rachel Campbell said in an email that the port is disappointed with the ruling.
“We will study the decision and discuss next steps with BNSF and the Board of Harbor Commissioners,” Campbell said.
Taking Off
Southwest Airlines last week announced a plan to start daily flights out of Long Beach Airport.
The Dallas airline will operate round-trip flights four times a day to Ontario, charging its passengers $49 one way. Flights are scheduled to start June 5.
“The reason we’re adding the Long Beach Airport is because there are slots available at the airport that were not available before,” said Brad Hawkins, spokesman for Southwest.
The announcement came as the city of Long Beach, citing studies showing that modern jet engines make planes quieter than older aircraft, allowed the airport to add additional flights.
Two other airlines flying out of Long Beach will also add flights. Jet Blue Airways Corp., the airport’s primary carrier, will add flights to Reno-Tahoe International Airport, San Francisco, and Oakland. Delta Air Lines also plans two more flights but has not yet announced the routes.
Pay Up
More than 100 airport workers rallied at the Los Angeles International Airport on March 30 demanding better working conditions and return of unpaid wages.
They claim airline catering and provisioning services company Gate Gourmet Inc. misclassified the cabin cleaners as airline food service workers. The workers say the company didn’t comply with LAX’s Living Wage Ordinance, which requires companies to pay nothing less than a minimum wage to airport employees. Now, the workers are demanding that the catering company pays $2 million in owed wages.
The rally came a few days after the city ordered the catering company to comply with the living wage ordinance.
Mireya Avina Linares, a cabin cleaner who said she worked for Gate Gourmet for two years, joined with other workers protesting outside Terminal 5, where the company operates.
“I’m trying to fight for better wages for the work I’ve done,” she said. “I’m very happy that the city supports me to get the wages that the company owes me.”
Staff reporter Olga Grigoryants can be reached at [email protected] or (323) 549-5225, ext. 226.
