With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
SoCal Coastline Erodes During Heavy Storm, Delaying Trains
This hillside in San Clemente began to collapse towards train tracks in mid January, as seen above. During this week's storms it saw as much as 3 feet of movement. An emergency structure is in the process of being designed to stop the movement.
(
Courtesy Orange County Transportation Authority
)
Our coastline is especially vulnerable to erosion when big storms arrive, and this latest round of precipitation was no exception.
Over the past 72 hours, we’ve seen train delays, a threat to apartment buildings and to PCH. And with additional patches of precipitation passing through, we’re not out of the woods just yet.
Apartments undercut
In Isla Vista, more than 40 people were evacuated from several apartments as a bluff gave way, leading to the partial collapse of a deck.
Support for LAist comes from
Evacuation efforts underway on 6700 Blk of Del Playa, Isla Vista. 4 apt. Units displaced with approx. 45+ people displaced due to cliff / bluff erosion. More to come. CT9:51am pic.twitter.com/6lcYO8Z4ie
— Scott Safechuck (@SBCFireInfo) February 6, 2024
Local authorities investigated the incident and allowed residents to return after determining the homes were safe.
PCH compromised
Pacific Coast Highway was temporarily closed in Ventura County, as waves undercut the roadway there.
The destruction of PCH by waves and rain is a problem up and down the coast. And it’s expected to get compounded in the coming decades.
It’s since been reopened.
Support for LAist comes from
Train tracks threatened
San Clemente saw some of the most significant impacts, as a hillside beneath some homes continued to crumble towards train tracks below. Between 1.5 to 3 feet of soil movement was seen between Monday and Tuesday due to the rains.
The Mariposa pedestrian bridge damaged by a landslide in San Clemente in January 2024.
(
Orange County Transportation Authority
)
The movement triggered a suspension of freight service on Tuesday night, but it resumed as of Wednesday morning. However, because of ongoing movement, both Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink have determined that it’s unsafe to operate passenger rail through the corridor.
Soil and debris have been falling down the hill towards the tracks since Jan. 15.
California recently approved $10 million in emergency funding to build a barrier, to prevent debris from falling on the train track. It’s currently in the design phase.
Soil movement is expected to continue whether it’s raining or not.
Support for LAist comes from
What we’re watching for
Long after the rains have passed, water continues to percolate deep into the Earth and can cause deep-seated landslides, as we saw on a sunny day in the Palos Verdes Peninsula last year.
Hopefully soils will have some time to dry out before more heavy storms move through.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
Best of LAist