Topline:
Orange County transport officials are planning to a build barrier wall to protect rail tracks after land movement in San Clemente halted passenger train service once again through South Orange County.
The backstory: Orange County Transportation Authority was granted $10 million in emergency funds toward protecting the track and retosring passenger rail service this week, after the recent San Clemente landslide near the Mariposa pedestrian bridge.
Why it matters: An OCTA spokesperson said there is no estimate for how much the repair work will cost. In 2023, when land movement halted rail service, it cost an estimated $12 million in repair work before rail service resumed.
What’s next: Heavy rains are expected to move into Southern California on Sunday and the affected area is currently covered with plastic tarp as workers continue to monitor for land movement. A timeline for when rail service will resume has not been set.
Go deeper ... to learn about what the train disruptions in San Clemente mean for the future of coastal travel.
