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It’s time to weigh in on 30-year plan for OC’s troubled coastal rail corridor
Crews have begun building a temporary wall to protect the San Clemente coastal rail corridor from landslides and debris.
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The Orange County Transportation Authority
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Topline:
The OC Transportation Authority’s Coastal Rail Resiliency Study is now available for public review. The plan looks at ways to protect about 7 miles of the iconic rail corridor from South Orange County to the San Diego County line for the next 30 years.
Background: The rail is part of the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo rail corridor. Erosion and landslides along the coastal rail have caused several disruptions since 2021.
Why it matters: The study is intended to help move the agency away from responding to emergencies and toward a consistent game plan to keep the rail safe and reliable for decades to come, officials said. The meetings will be the public’s opportunity to learn more about the solutions and provide feedback.
What does the study say? Eight concepts could improve rail resiliency, focusing on the bluffside, beachside and the rail. The concepts included track bed stabilization and several sand placement ideas.
A draft of the study is available for review here.
Two ways to participate:
- Monday, Aug. 10 is an in-person meeting from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at San Clemente City Hall.
- Tuesday, Aug 11 is a virtual meeting from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. You can register for the online session here.
Next steps: After receiving community feedback, the agency will present the final report to the board in the fall. A separate study will be led by the state to come up with solutions beyond the 30 years, including potentially relocating the rail line.
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