On the heels of yet another landslide-induced track closure in San Clemente, newly proposed legislation would have the state take the lead in managing the Los Angeles–San Luis Obispo–San Diego rail corridor, a 351-mile stretch of train tracks from San Luis Obispo to San Diego.
To improve service and prevent frequent track closures along the coast, legislators believe there needs to be direction regarding what would most benefit the LOSSAN rail corridor coming from the state level. Currently, the corridor is managed by the LOSSAN Agency, a joint-powers authority staffed by the Orange County Transportation Authority.
“We cannot continue to plan for this regional transportation infrastructure as we’ve been doing,” said Sen. Catherine Blakespear, who authored the legislation. “We cannot accept that track closures and service disruptions are a regular part of operating rail service in Southern California.”
The legislation would grant power to the state’s transportation secretary to lead “all necessary coordination, collaboration and intervention when necessary” among the nearly one dozen organizations that have a stake in the LOSSAN rail corridor, including railroad owners, transit agencies, planning agencies and freight operators.
While the corridor is controlled locally, the California State Transportation Agency recently convened a working group of stakeholders for opportunities to improve service, according to CalSTA.
The legislation would also require the state secretary of transportation, in tandem with the California Department of Transportation, to compile specific plans that could improve rail services for passengers and freight as well as ensure safe and continued train service.
The state secretary of transportation would need to report back to the legislature regarding the management of the LOSSAN rail corridor every two years starting in 2027.
Now, when there’s an issue with the tracks, such as closures induced by a…
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