Online Meeting to Discuss Coastal Rail Resiliency Study set for July 29

Separate from ongoing emergency repairs in San Clemente reinforcement areas, OCTA is studying options for reinforcing the rail line for approximately the next 30 years and encourages public input

ORANGE - As part of ongoing efforts to protect a vital rail link in south Orange County, the Orange County Transportation Authority is inviting the public to participate in an online public meeting to learn about and provide feedback on the Coastal Rail Resiliency Study.

The online meeting will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29 on Zoom.

This opportunity to provide public input follows a well-attended meeting in San Clemente earlier in July. During the meeting approximately 20 draft alternative concepts were unveiled that could potentially be implemented to reinforce the rail line and the adjacent bluffs and beach.

OCTA is seeking public input to help refine these concepts and decide on which alternatives to include in the final study, expected to be completed next year.

The Coastal Rail Resiliency Study is focused on identifying strategies to ensure the continued operation of passenger and freight trains along a vulnerable seven-mile segment of coast between Dana Point and the San Diego County line. This study is separate from emergency reinforcement work currently underway in San Clemente to address immediate threats to the rail line from coastal erosion and unstable bluffs.

OCTA and its project partners have developed a list of potential alternatives to address future threats to the rail corridor. These potential options, which will be further outlined in the July 29 online presentation, include both nature-based and engineering solutions, such as sand nourishment and retention, slope grading, catchment walls, drainage improvements and elevating the tracks in sections.

Whichever alternatives are eventually selected, with the help of the public's input, are intended to maintain rail service for at least the next 30 years while more permanent solutions are explored.

The public is encouraged to participate in the virtual meeting to review these alternatives and share feedback:

• Online Public Meeting:Tuesday, July 295 to 6:30 p.m.Register: https://bit.ly/CRRS-Jul29Webinar ID: 876 4063 9878Call-in: (669) 900-6833(Spanish interpretation will be provided.)

The rail line is part of the 351-mile LOSSAN Corridor, the nation's second-busiest intercity passenger rail route and a critical freight route that also serves U.S. military logistics. Since 2021, repeated closures in the San Clemente area due to storm damage and land movement have underscored the need for both emergency protections and forward-looking planning.

The public's feedback on the draft alternatives will directly influence the refinement of these options and help shape the final feasibility study expected in 2026. The final plan is expected to then go to the OCTA Board of Directors for consideration.

A separate state-led initiative is expected to consider longer-term strategies beyond 30 years, including a potential inland relocation of the rail line in southern Orange County.

• Sign up for CRRS updates and review resources from the study at: octa.net/crrs
• Learn more about ongoing emergency rail protection efforts at: octa.net/railemergency.

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