L.A. Looking At 'Inland Port' Idea

"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 Mike Antonovich aims to shift a big 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."

"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."

"About half the goods coming into the L.A. and Long Beach ports stay in Southern California, said Theresa Adams Lopez, spokeswoman for the Port of Los Angeles. The rest is hauled back to stores and warehouses across the country -- leaving the state to pick up the tab for the wear and tear 18-wheelers do to roadways and commuters sitting in gridlock."

Thanks to Michael Jelks