OCTA: Progress made on shoring up San Clemente coastal rail line

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) last week announced significant progress in the ongoing emergency work to stabilize the San Clemente, California, coastal rail line, which is being threatened by sliding bluffs and coastal erosion.

The line is scheduled to remain closed to passenger-rail service for about five more weeks, OCTA officials said in a press release. Service initially closed April 28 so that crews could conduct emergency work to reinforce sections of track at immediate risk from landslides and coastal erosion.

Crews are focused on removing the remaining spans of the city's damaged Mariposa Point pedestrian bridge and repairing and reinforcing damaged riprap. OCTA is working to source 240,000 cubic yards of sand as part of the project.

The California Coastal Commission tomorrow will review and consider OCTA's proposal to construct a new catchment wall at Mariposa Point and restore the pedestrian beach trail. The current work, estimated to cost $10 million, is moving forward under emergency authorization from the California Coastal Commission.

The San Clemente coastal rail line is used by Metrolink, Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and BNSF Railway Co. trains.