Study Objectives

The Coastal Rail Resiliency Study (CRRS) evaluates strategies to protect the railroad in place for up to 30 years and ensure uninterrupted rail operations while minimizing passenger and freight service disruptions. It will include a detailed analysis of seven miles of critical coastal track between Dana Point and San Clemente up to the the San Diego County line.

Key milestones include conducting an initial assessment to identify and evaluate locations at immediate risk; establishing evaluation criteria to consider potential alternative concepts; developing these concepts and ultimately presenting draft and final feasibility study reports. The concepts focus on three critical components: 1) bluffside; 2) beachside; and 3) rail. The study focuses on which of these concepts are most appropriate along sections of the seven mile rail segment.

A separate long-term study will look at potential rail line relocation to an inland alignment between San Juan Capistrano and San Onofre State Beach. Given the potential magnitude of this effort, it will require involvement of state and federal agencies.