OCTA Advances Priority Coastal Rail Projects in San Clemente

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), CA, is taking another step in its ongoing effort to protect and stabilize the coastal rail line through San Clemente to help ensure safe and uninterrupted rail service, with the OCTA Board of Directors voting to advance four priority projects under the Coastal Rail Stabilization Priority Project.

“This rail line is essential to safely moving passengers and freight, and I’m proud of the work we are doing with strong input from the community and all stakeholders to make sure this vital corridor remains operating smoothly,” said OCTA Chair Doug Chaffee, also Orange County’s Fourth District supervisor.

Since fall 2021, multiple bluff failures and landslides on privately owned land have, along with coastal erosion, significantly impacted rail operations along the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor, requiring emergency stabilization efforts. Subsequently, studies indicated that other areas through San Clemente are at risk.

To address these concerns, OCTA has been collaborating with regulatory agencies to implement strategic solutions in the near future, while continuing to look at short- and mid-term solutions to protect the rail line in place. OCTA is also working with the state toward long-term solutions.

OCTA staff has continued to engage with regulatory agencies to find ways to streamline the permitting processes and advance the four identified reinforcement areas. The priority projects are currently under the environmental and preliminary engineering phase, which would help to ensure the timely implementation of protective measures while aiming to minimize future rail service disruptions.

OCTA has advanced the following projects:

Reinforcement Area 3: A proposed catchment wall at Mariposa Point designed to protect from landslides will be expedited. This location does not require permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or the California State Lands Commission, allowing for accelerated project implementation.

Reinforcement Areas 1, 2, and 4: OCTA is evaluating multiple protective measures, including riprap repair, engineered revetments, seawalls, and sand nourishment to address coastal erosion risks.

Last fall, OCTA secured $305 million in state and federal funding, enabling the completion of design and construction for the Coastal Rail Stabilization Priority Project.