The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) has announced a series of public meetings in July as part of its Coastal Rail Resiliency Study (CRRS), inviting residents to help shape long-term solutions to safeguard one of Southern California’s most vulnerable rail corridors.
Separate from ongoing emergency repairs along the coastal rail line in San Clemente, the CRRS is evaluating strategies to reinforce approximately seven miles of track between Dana Point and the San Diego County line over the next three decades. The project aims to address increasing risks from coastal erosion and slope instability that have disrupted passenger and freight rail services in recent years.
A strategic corridor at risk
The rail line in question is part of the 351-mile LOSSAN Corridor, the second-busiest intercity passenger rail route in the United States. It also supports more than USD 1 billion in freight annually and is recognised by the U.S. Department of Defense as a Strategic Rail Corridor Network (STRACNET) asset, due to its proximity to military bases and ports.
However, repeated closures caused by storms and shifting terrain—particularly in San Clemente—since 2021 have exposed the corridor’s fragility, prompting the need for both short-term and long-range interventions.
Emergency works underway
In a separate initiative, OCTA and Metrolink have led emergency stabilisation works since late April, including the placement of 5,900 tons of riprap to shield the tracks from further erosion. Crews also repositioned existing material and are preparing to build a 1,400-foot retaining wall, supported by approximately 240,000 cubic yards of sand to reinforce the rail bed from the coastal side.
These short-term measures are focused on priority locations identified as immediately at risk and are expected to provide stabilisation for the near future.
Planning ahead: A 30-year vision
The CRRS, however, looks beyond these emergency fixes. The study explores broader, longer-term alternatives to maintain uninterrupted rail service along the coast, taking into account the evolving threats posed by climate change, sea level rise, and land movement.
Public feedback from the July meetings is critical in shaping the options considered. The input gathered will inform the development of draft alternatives, with a final feasibility report anticipated in 2026.
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