Raising the Vincent Thomas Bridge

By Heather McRea

This week in Coast Lines: The Port of Los Angeles needs more headroom, its chief says about a plan he’s proposing to raise the deck of the Vincent Thomas Bridge.

Plus, two electric passenger trolleys will glide into San Pedro and two congressmembers set a path to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from large ships by 2050.

Here’s what’s happening along the Southern California coast.

A big lift

Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka is floating the idea of raising the Vincent Thomas Bridge to bring in bigger ships. 

Raising the deck of the Vincent Thomas Bridge about 26 feet higher over the water to accommodate the world’s largest — and cleanest — container ships would cost about $1.5 billion.

A similar adjustment was made to the Bayonne Bridge between Staten Island, New York, and Bayonne, New Jersey, with the structure kept but the bridge deck raised.  

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Hop aboard

A $470,000 grant to reduce emissions in communities is expected to have two electric trolleys rolling into San Pedro by the end of the year.

They will join with the existing fleet of four red trolleys already serving San Pedro’s downtown and waterfront community. 

“These new electric trolleys are more than just a mode of transportation — they’re a tool for economic development,” said Yolanda Regalado, board chair of Discover San Pedro and a downtown business owner. “They’ll move people efficiently through our district, encouraging visitors to shop, dine, and explore more of what San Pedro has to offer.” 

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Another try

U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla have reintroduced the Clean Shipping Act, which would help eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from large ships doing business in the U.S. by 2050.

Specifically, the bill would mandate that by 2050, ships must cut all greenhouse gas pollution, and by 2035, they must emit zero emissions while parked at ports.

“Our nation’s ports, particularly the Port of Long Beach, are crucial parts of the economy that drive our supply chain at home,” Garcia, the former mayor of Long Beach, said in a written statement. “However, they’re also among the largest sources of pollution in our coastal communities.”

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What else?

Construction starts on a major terminal expansion in the Port of Long Beach. 
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The Aquarium of the Pacific helped with the release of endangered frog species back to the Santa Monica Mountains.

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These aquatic day scout camps create memories for kids.

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On the water

The USS California was a flagship of the Navy’s Pacific Fleet for nearly two decades. And, when San Pedro was home to the submarine base that has since moved to San Diego, the versatile ship was often seen nearby and sailors from it participated in the community. 

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