ORANGE – Passenger rail service through San Clemente will be suspended beginning Monday, April 28, to allow for crews to safely conduct emergency construction aimed at stabilizing sections of track at immediate risk from landslides and coastal erosion.
Issue an emergency design-build procurement for construction of a catchment wall along Mariposa Point, which is planned to include restoration of San Clemente’s popular pedestrian trail, and to build a revetment, seawall, or functionally equivalent structure south of San Clemente State Beach.
Metrolink plans to resume all regular passenger rail service along its Orange County and Inland Empire-Orange County lines through San Clemente, once again serving Oceanside seven days a week.
The board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing OCTA CEO Darrell E. Johnson to take all necessary steps to protect a vital stretch of track through San Clemente, where recent landslides, beach erosion and degrading riprap pose a serious threat to the rail line.
As a part of Coastal Rail Resiliency Study, OCTA completed an Initial Assessment that identified four areas requiring immediate action to ensure safe and uninterrupted rail operations through San Clemente.
The emergency work along 700 feet of rail line in south San Clemente continues. Following heavy rains recently that delayed construction, crews resumed weekday work on Monday morning to install ground anchors and tie-backs to secure the hillside next to the tracks.
On March 31, OCTA submitted an Emergency Coastal Development Permit to the California Coastal Commission to expedite work to stabilize four areas most vulnerable to failure above the railroad track through San Clemente.
ORANGE – All regular Metrolink and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service is scheduled to resume beginning Monday, April 17, after the Orange County Transportation Authority’s emergency construction work has been successful in stopping slope movement and stabilizing the tracks in south San Clemente.
California Transportation Commission funds come in addition to previous $2 million for cleanup; San Clemente slope continues to be monitored as freight trains resume overnight trips
On Monday, the OCTA Board received an update on the Coastal Rail Resiliency Study and an initial assessment that identified sites along the coastal rail line recommended for monitoring and reinforcement to ensure that rail traffic can continue moving without additional interruptions.