(Feb. 28, 2008) -- Cong. Dana Rohrabacher (R., HB-LB-PV) has held a Capitol Hill press event supporting a futuristic -- and he says technically and fiscally feasible -- "Electrodynamic Cargo Conveyor" (ECCO) system that uses MagLev (magnetic levitation) guideways to speed containers to and from LB/L.A. Port complex.

Cong. Rohrabacher's office says in a release that the system dramatically cuts air pollution, noise pollution and traffic congestion...and Cong. Rohrabacher declared, "The ECCO system has the potential to be less costly, with less pollution, less congestion and the system would pay for itself."

Cong. Rohrabacher says the ECCO system can use the magnetic levitation technology to transport freight through existing road and rail infrastructure...and could theoretically also transport people.

"The ECCO system has the potential to be less costly, with less pollution, less congestion and the system would pay for itself," says the Congressman's office in a release, transporting freight (and possibly people) through existing road and rail infrastructure.

"A project was set in motion [on Feb. 27] on Capitol Hill that could potentially remove tens of thousands of trucks from roads in Southern California," Cong. Rohrabacher declared. His office hosted reps from the Gateway Cities Council of Government, CSULB, General Atomics, U.S. Department of Transportation, local elected officials and Members of Congress to "offer a comprehensive overview of the system and provide a forum to discuss the next tangible steps to make the ECCO a reality.

In a joint effort, General Atomics and Long Beach State University have conducted extensive engineering studies and developed a working prototype," Cong. Rohrabacher's office said in a release.

"The first step will be to establish a joint powers agreement among the cities in Southern California, which represent over five million people," said Rohrabacher.

"This will become the necessary organizational structure to begin building the first segment of the project from dockside at the ports to a staging area a mile and half away. Our goal is to break ground within 3 years, eventually completing the route to Victorville and Beaumont where containers are offloaded for national distribution."

Among those present at the Capitol Hill event: Congresswoman Laura Richardson (D., Carson-LB), LB Councilman Gary DeLong (chair, City Council's Fed'l Legislation Committee).

Also attending: Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN); Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA); Rep. John Mica (R-FL, Ranking Member Transportation & Infrastructure Committee) and South Gate Mayor Gil Hurtado.