What is the future for Southern California rail and how can agencies and stakeholders come together as they grapple with sea level rise, funding hurdles and challenges facing ridership?
A Senate transportation subcommittee tasked with looking at the resiliency of the Los Angeles–San Luis Obispo–San Diego, or LOSSAN, rail corridor held a hearing on Monday, Dec. 11, in San Clemente to brainstorm ideas for ensuring the key rail line’s successful future. The gathering was led by Sen. Catherine Blakespear, D-Encinitas, who also represents a portion of south Orange County.
The California Senate Office of Research released a report ahead of the meeting analyzing the challenges faced by the rail corridor in the future and in securing funding to deliver critical capital investments.
Among challenges, the report highlights, is the growing need to address significant climate impacts to rail infrastructure, including those from “inundation, landslides, flooding, high winds, intense waves, storm surge accelerated coastal erosion, and change in construction material durability.” The south Orange County stretch of the line has already been shuttered for several months at a time because of ocean-related damage to the tracks.
Protecting and addressing needs along the 351-mile corridor, as well as meeting the long-term vision outlined in a 2018 statewide rail plan, will no doubt be costly, officials said – already identified is $10 billion for the Metrolink-sponsored Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion (SCORE) program and at least $7.2 billion for various improvements along San Diego’s section.
The state, since 2016, has given about $3.2 billion in grants to the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, but that funding in the future is not guaranteed, according to the report.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in 2021 offers a historic opportunity for new federal investment in passenger rail, with up to $20 billion in grants available through 2025,…
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