DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 16: An aerial view of an Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train passing along eroding cliffs at the Pacific Ocean coastline on August 16, 2024 in Del Mar, California. Rising sea levels and stronger storms have contributed to increased erosion and landslides along the vital Amtrak Pacific Surfliner coastal rail corridor which runs over 350 miles through Southern California to California’s Central Coast. Erosion and landslides on coastal bluffs led to three extended closures along the route in 2023 and 2024 and twelve shutdowns in the past six years. With climate change expected to bring more intense storms and higher seas, most officials believe vulnerable sections of the corridor will need to be moved inland. The scenic route is the second-most popular Amtrak corridor in the country and also serves commuter and freight trains. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Sacramento, California – California state officials on Wednesday approved nearly $10 million in emergency funding to address erosion-related issues that have repeatedly disrupted train service along the state’s vital coastal rail corridor.
In an emergency meeting, the California Transportation Commission unanimously authorized $9.98 million for improvements along the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) rail corridor — the second busiest intercity passenger rail line in the United States.
The funding is designated for the Orange County Transportation Authority’s Coastal Rail Infrastructure Resiliency Project, which targets a seven-mile stretch of track that has frequently faced service interruptions due to coastal erosion and slope instability.
“The LOSSAN rail corridor is an integral part of California’s transportation system,” said Darnell Grisby, chair of the Transportation Commission. “The investments we are making today will reduce future emergency closures and provide more reliability for over 150 daily passenger trains and more than $1 billion in freight that moves through the corridor annually.”
The approved funds will help construct a catchment wall at Mariposa Point and a protective revetment, seawall, or similar coastal defense structure south of San Clemente State Beach. These measures aim to protect the railway from continued erosion and potential collapse, which has prompted multiple service suspensions in recent years.
Transportation officials emphasized the economic and logistical importance of maintaining reliable train service in the corridor, which serves millions of riders and supports both commuter and freight traffic along Southern California’s coast.
“Millions of Californians rely on our nation’s second busiest intercity passenger rail corridor for vital transport to and from work, family and essential services,” said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. “Today’s critical investment, which was only made possible through the close cooperation among our many partners, underscores our shared urgency in ensuring a reliable and resilient railroad that will improve the lives of Californians.”
The repairs and reinforcements are part of a broader effort by state and regional agencies to safeguard infrastructure from the increasing threats posed by climate change, including rising sea levels and coastal erosion.
