The Orange County Transportation Authority has again declared an emergency need for repairs to the coastal train tracks that run through San Clemente to fix damage from landslides and ocean waves.
Passenger rail service between San Clemente and Oceanside that was halted last week because of safety concerns will remain blocked until further notice for the construction, officials said.
Repairs at two locations are needed – an original stretch of track along the cliffs below the Cyprus Shore community in south San Clemente that already underwent several months of work and a stretch further north at the base of the hillside below the Casa Romantica cultural center that has recently seen chunks of soil and patio tumble onto the tracks.
OCTA board members approved on Monday the construction of a temporary barrier wall at the base of the hillside below Casa Romantica to protect the track. No timeline for the work was offered.
“Once a contractor is on board, we will know more about potential costs and will work with all our state and federal partners to explore funding options,” Eric Carpenter, an OCTA spokesperson, said in an email.
OCTA, which owns the tracks through Orange County; Metrolink, which operates passenger train service; and the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (or LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency will jointly decide when the rail line can reopen.
Passengers are advised to check the Metrolink and Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner websites for information about alternative transportation services.
Three daily Pacific Surfliner round trips to and from San Diego with corresponding bus connections are transporting people around the closure between Irvine and Oceanside. The Pacific Surfliner is reducing services south of Irvine to cut costs and preserve its services during the track closure. Services north of Irvine remain unaffected.
Metrolink’s trains will go as far as Laguna Niguel and Mission Viejo on weekdays. Weekend trains will operate…
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