LOSSAN Rail Realignment

In 2007, Caltrans and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released the final LOSSAN Corridor Program Environmental Impact Report/Statement (EIR/EIS) evaluating conventional rail improvements for the corridor. Due to the high pedestrian activity in the City of Del Mar, and especially along the coast, the report recommended relocating the rail corridor away from the fragile Del Mar bluffs into an underground tunnel. This will achieve complete grade separation, significantly improving safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles. The EIR/EIS identified two possible alignment options: a tunnel under Camino Del Mar or a tunnel under I-5.

In 2017, SANDAG completed a conceptual alignment study to discover ways to improve speed, capacity, and safety of future rail service. It identified five possible alignments, including the two tunnel options recommended by the 2007 study. The other three options were Crest Canyon, Crest Canyon Higher Speed, and I-5 East.

In response to threats from erosion and climate change, SANDAG and partner agencies commissioned the San Diego Regional Rail Corridor Alternative Alignment and Improvements Conceptual Engineering Study for the San Diego section of the LOSSAN Corridor in summer 2020. Partners included the North County Transit District (NCTD), the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and the United States Department of Transportation (US DOT).

In March 2021, we studied existing rail line conditions, analyzed proposed alignments, and conducted exploratory geotechnical work. To understand area challenges and opportunities, we met with key cities, agency partners, and environmental organizations.

We refined the five potential alignments identified in the 2017 study in the San Dieguito to Sorrento Valley Double Track Alternatives Analysis Report. The refined alignments were Camino Del Mar, Crest Canyon Higher Speed, Crest Canyon Above, Crest Canyon Below, and I-5.

In 2022, Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins secured $300 million in the state budget to move the study forward to the environmental clearance and final design phases. This was a huge step forward for this critically important regional project.

In summer and fall 2023, we hosted community open houses and public information sessions to obtain feedback on the most feasible rail alignment options. Through these efforts, we had more than 300 points of contact, including 200+ written comments, 100+ emails, 30+ public comments, 35+ drawn alignment suggestions, and 25 meetings through our virtual and in person field offices.

From June 4 to July 19, 2024, we asked the public to submit their comments on the proposed alternative routes and related environmental concerns that will be addressed in the Draft Environmental Impact Review (DEIR). As we incorporate public feedback into the environmental process and preliminary design for the future Rail Realignment project, we continue to review potential alignments and other rail improvement opportunities.

As preliminary engineering and environmental work begins, our goal is to produce a final environmental document in 2026.

We anticipate the total cost to deliver the project will be $3 to $4 billion.

In 2022, the California State Legislature approved $300 million to fund preliminary planning, design, and environmental review, which includes an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) as part of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes. This funding will allow SANDAG to begin this environmental work, analyze alignment alternatives, study potential impacts, address stakeholder concerns, and identify future costs. We also aim to complete a cost-benefit analysis during the environmental phase. Once an alignment (or route) has been chosen, multiple sources of government funding—including local, state, and federal—will help us complete the project.

The alignment options have not yet been chosen, and no decision has been made on which proposed alignment will be built.

Using information from various studies, we are currently considering various options. Read through the project timeline above for more detail on the process. All practical alternatives are still being considered and will be studied during the formal environmental review process under CEQA and NEPA, which began in June 2024.

Under CEQA and NEPA guidelines, SANDAG must study a “No Project Alternative” which may include long-term, additional stabilization of the bluffs. However, the California Coastal Commission approved the most recent bluffs stabilization project with the understanding that the long-term plan is to relocate the tracks off the bluffs.

Due to the topography of the existing terrain, it would likely be challenging or impossible to accommodate the 2% maximum slope design requirement with an entirely at-grade or above-grade option. Although many potential alignment options are still being evaluated, tunneling would ensure the long-term reliability of the rail line. By replacing the current single track with a double-tracked, underground route, we can achieve the necessary performance and safety goals.

During the environmental phase, we will study the potential impact of construction and train traffic on residents. Experts will evaluate noise and vibration reduction methods that will work best in this specific situation. Our goal is to deliver a solution that minimizes vibration and noise.

The depth will vary depending on the topography above the tunnel. In many areas, the tunnel would be more than 300 feet below the surface. At this level of design, the general rule of thumb is that there should be cover or at least the diameter of the tunnel above the bored tunnel. For example, if the tunnel diameter is 30 feet, the minimum depth would be 30 feet from the existing ground surface to the top of the tunnel.

We conducted preliminary geotechnical studies, and results can be found in Appendix E of the Alternatives Analysis. More detailed geotechnical studies will be conducted, and the results will be included in the Draft Environmental Impact Report.

A value analysis is a technical study in which we will revisit the alternatives originally proposed in the Notice of Preparation (NOP) that was released in June 2024, and/or identify new ones for consideration. SANDAG has invited representatives from the cities of Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Oceanside, San Diego, and Solana Beach, as well as representatives from the 22nd District Agricultural Association, Metropolitan Transit System, North County Transit District, and Caltrans to participate. 

We expect to complete the value analysis study by the end of 2024, and the findings will be shared with the public and SANDAG Board of Directors. Following action by the BOD, a revised NOP may be prepared if necessary and released for public comment.

Topics for environmental study under CEQA include:

• Aesthetics
• Air quality
• Biological resources
• Cultural resources
• Energy
• Geology and soils
• Greenhouse gas emissions
• Hazards and hazardous materials
• Hydrology and water quality
• Land use and planning
• Mineral resources
• Noise and vibration
• Population and housing
• Public services
• Recreation
• Transportation
• Tribal cultural resources
• Utilities and service systems
• Wildfire
• Mandatory findings of significance

Yes, SANDAG is working closely with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and is a key stakeholder in their Coastal Resiliency Working Group. Together, we are evaluating strategies to protect the railroad corridor and maintain rail operations while developing a long-term vision. Additionally, both SANDAG and OCTA are members of the LOSSAN agency, where we collaborate to improve passenger rail ridership, revenue, on-time performance, operational flexibility, and safety.

Yes, SANDAG will follow the latest guidance from the California Ocean Protection Council to ensure the project meets 100-year sea level rise estimates.

Yes, rail operations will continue during the construction phase.

Yes, our goal is to maintain safe access to local businesses during business hours, to the extent possible.

Yes, access for emergency services will be maintained during construction.

Preliminary engineering and environmental studies will need to be completed to identify the full range of benefits. At a minimum, the project will protect the rail line from landslides, erosion, and seismic activity along the Del Mar bluffs and secure the long-term reliability of transit service through our region. We also expect the realignment to facilitate coastal access and create new recreation and building opportunities.

The realignment project is part of a larger program of improvements on the LOSSAN Corridor. It is still too early to know what property interests might be required. To learn more about this process, please visit our Real Estate and LOSSAN Rail Realignment page.

SANDAG presented preliminary results of the planning study to several community planning groups, the Del Mar City Council, and other technical boards between 2020 and 2023. Feedback from public meetings has influenced the alternatives evaluated in the study. The latest work is only the beginning of a lengthy community-oriented process. SANDAG intends to maximize public input opportunities throughout the project.