Comparative Evaluation of Infrastructure Strategies to Reduce Emissions from Intermodal Freight Movement in Southern California

Abstract

Five major infrastructure projects are evaluated that could substantially reduce emissions from intermodal goods movement in Southern California: on-dock railroad expansion, near-dock railroad expansion, mainline railroad capacity expansion and grade separation, electrification of the Alameda Corridor, and electrification of the entire mainline regional railroad system. Given the importance of Southern California as a gateway for international trade, the need for expansion of the capacity of the region's goods movement system, and the contribution of goods movement to the region's serious air quality problems, it is important to understand the emissions impacts of major goods movement infrastructure projects. This study finds that all five infrastructure projects can reduce a significant amount of emissions. Electrification of the entire mainline railroad system would achieve by far the largest emission reductions, eliminating emissions of more than 7,500 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 236 tons of particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or smaller (PM2.5) annually. Mainline capacity expansion would achieve the next-largest reductions. Alameda Corridor electrification is the most cost-effective of the five strategies at $9,000 per ton of NOx and $304,000 per ton of PM2.5.