ORANGE, Calif. — The Orange County Transportation Authority is considering a proposal to build a $200 million, half-mile-long wall along the Surf Line right-of-way to address slide issues that have repeatedly closed the rail route since 2021 — but the city of San Clemente has reservations about the idea.
Meanwhile, work continues on the temporary wall to address the latest slide that has disrupted passenger operations through San Clemente.
The San Clemente Times reports that OCTA board discussed the wall proposal at its Monday, March 11, board meeting. The concept was included in a report on the agency’s Coastal Rail Resiliency Study, a 24-month project launched in November. In addition to the wall, extending northward from an area near San Clemente Pier, the proposal calls for a half-mile of rip-rap and an additional three-quarter miles of revetment, or a armoring facing material.
San Clemente Mayor Victor Cabral told the Times city and OCTA officials met regarding the wall proposal on March 12, and that while the city understands the desire to protect the railroad, but the city prefers an alternative approach: “We think, as a city, that it would be more effective to lay more sand down that would protect the tracks and also protect the hillside, and have the additional benefit of providing a better look for our city and our residents.”
Development of the resiliency study, including public meetings, will continue through the fall, with a final feasibility report expected in fall 2025. More on the study is available here.
Temporary wall construction advances
Also on Monday, the OCTA updated construction of the temporary wall at the site of the landslide that has disrupted passenger service through San Clemente since Jan. 24, although limited Pacific Surfliner service past the slide site has resumed [see “Limited through LA-San Diego Pacific Surfliner service …,” Trains News Wire, March 5, 2024].
Wooden panels have now been placed between the 33 steel beams that are part of the 200-foot-long wall, and work continues on a culvert and drainage system that is part of project. Grading of the privately owned hillside above the site will begin this week, along with trenching and soil work to improve the water flow to the ocean.
Also, Metrolink track workers have begun restoring the ballast, including removal of mud and dirt that inundated the right-of-way, which is necessary before speeds above 10 mph are permitted. This could take up to two weeks.
The project is expected to be completed late this month, with Metrolink service restored to and from Oceanside in early April.
Sand? With the coastal rains California gets during the winter and spring how will sand help. Look at the picture that newswire posted a week or so of the houses right near the edge of the bluffs. Yeah Mr mayor, I am sure some of your residents will be happy with the look, once some of those houses end up on the tracks below. Not an engineer, but I think a retaining wall is needed.
Not that those houses were anywhere near San Clemente mind you, but the thought is the same. Besides, who would be looking DOWN at the tracks anyways, people are going to be looking OUT towards the ocean. The only people that would see the wall, which could be very attractive and functional if built right, are those on the beach.
I wonder if the mayor’s position is supported by soils engineers, or is it just wishful thinking?
The mayor is talking through his armpit. Two of the most difficult specialties in civil engineering are (1) geotech — meaning soils —– ; and (2) retaining walls.
I’m certainly not saying that all politicians are ignorant jackasses. (Far from it.) This one surely is.