‘Inland Port’ proposed for Antelope Valley

“Seeking a solution to L.A’s congested freeways, a county official has proposed creating an “inland port” in the Antelope Valley where big rigs would pick up goods transported there by rail instead of driving to seaside ports. The idea by Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich aims to shift a significant chunk of the 22,000 truck trips made each day in and out of the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles to the county’s rural outskirts on the 5, 14 and 15 freeways. Goods would be hauled from the L.A. and Long Beach ports on existing train tracks to the Antelope Valley, where they would be loaded onto trucks bound for markets nationwide. ‘An inland port would reduce truck-related congestion and pollution throughout the county,’ Antonovich said. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board, where Antonovich also has a seat, is exploring the inland transfer station along with other plans to move products through the county’s highways, railways and ports as part of a statewide program to increase commerce while creating as little pollution as possible.”