Southern California Ports Set New Container Fees
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach voted Monday to charge a new $15 per-container fee on loaded cargo containers starting next January, the Associated Press reported.
The measure, which must be approved by the Los Angeles City Council, follows a $35 fee on loaded containers beginning June 1 that was approved late last year.
That measure is expected to raise about $1.6 billion to help pay to replace thousands of older diesel trucks with cleaner-burning models.
The new fees are aimed at raising more than $1.4 billion to help pay for bridge, rail and highway construction, AP reported.
They into effect Jan. 1, 2009, and will rise to $18 in 2010 before decreasing to an unspecified amount two years later, AP said.
The fees will remain in effect until the projects are fully funded, which officials expect will be seven years, AP reported.
