OCTA solicits public input on California coastal rail resiliency

The Orange County Transportation Authority this month will host two public sessions, one in person and one virtually, to gather input on its Coastal Rail Resiliency Study (CRRS).

The resiliency study will evaluate strategies to keep trains running along 7 miles of unstable coastline between Dana Point and the San Diego County line in California, OCTA officials said in a press release.

The study is distinct from the ongoing emergency work to reinforce coastline in areas needing immediate reinforcement against erosion and hillside sliding. Repeated weather-related closures in San Clemente since 2021 show the need for both immediate fixes, such as reinforcement, and forward-looking solutions, said OCTA officials.

OCTA led initial emergency work in partnership with Metrolink in late April through early June, placing riprap along the rail line. Additional work will include building a retaining wall and adding sand to the coastal side of the tracks. The CRRS will evaluate options to reinforce the track for the next 30 years.

Feedback from the two meetings will help shape draft alternatives and a final feasibility report, expected to be completed in 2026. A separate effort is being led by the California state government to examine potential solutions beyond the next 30 years.

The in-person hearing will be held July 15 at the San Clement City Hall. Registration for the virtual public session, to be held July 29, can be completed here.