The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners has finalized its yearly vision for capital investments in the Port of Los Angeles’ (POLA) after adopting its $3.4 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2027 budget.
The total budget commits a 25% leap in investment compared to its predecessor, tacking on an additional $665 million to reflect an increase in the port capital investment program. Over the next year, the port will allocate $302 million to prioritize critical infrastructure projects, including:
- Container terminal modernization – $117.6 million.
- Enhancing public-access infrastructure – $94.8 million.
- Maritime services – $50.4 million.
- Improving transportation in and out of the port – $35.5 million.
- Enhancing security – $4 million.
The following represent some of the largest investments included in the plan.
The single largest initiative featured in the document is the $501 million Zero Emissions Port Electrification and Operations (ZEPEO) project, with $7.7 million slated for investment in FY 2026/2027. The plan will add at minimum 200 megawatts (MW) of power for POLA and marine terminals, increasing power reliability and redundancy by expanding the city’s receiving station.
Additional plans for ZEPEO include building three new switching stations. The port will also build new 34.5 kilovolt (kV) underground distribution lines to distribute power to each marine terminal and add industrial stations to each terminal.
The budget includes a $5.6 million investment for the $270.1 million Terminal Island Maritime Support Facility project. Plans include paving around 75 acres and building and installing on-site office trailers, maintenance and repair facilities, parking spaces and water, electrical and fueling infrastructure. Additional work will consist of installing drainage, utilities, site lighting, site lighting and building a roadability canopy, restrooms, guard booths and 1000 feet of access roadway.
Plans include spending $56.6 million throughout the coming year to support the $153.5 million Wilmington Waterfront Avalon Pedestrian Bridge and Promenade Gateway project. The port will build a 380-foot-long between the promenade and gateway – a new open space recreation area included as part of the project. Details include transforming 12 acres of former industrial land into open space, including:
- A landscaped entry plaza.
- A 40-foot-tall architectural sundial.
- A historic walk and overlook.
- An open terrace seating area.
- Pedesterian pathways.
- Community gathering areas.
- Two parking lots.
- Public restrooms.
Additional work will include improving grading, paving, striping, lighting and landscaping along nearby roadways.
The board included another $5.8 million to support the $150 million POLA Goods Movement Workforce Training Facility project. After grading, compacting and paving the site, the port will build structures, utility and accessory structures for workforce training programs.
The port will spend $130 million to reconfigure an interchange at State Route 47/Vincent Thomas Bridge and Front Street/Harbor Boulevard, allocating $27.4 million for the coming year. The initiative – designed to alleviate congestion and improve overall safety – will prioritize realigning, modifying, replacing and relocating both on- and off-ramps on either side of the bridge.
Photo by Zzyzx, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, from Wikimedia Commons
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