Following a request from OCTA CEO Darrell Johnson, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) awarded $7.2 million to OCTA for a construction project to help restore a critical link in Southern California’s rail network.
The new funding from the state allows the OCTA and Metrolink project team to move forward on constructing a catchment wall at Mariposa Point in San Clemente, as well as other mitigation to protect the track from soil and debris from a privately owned slope that slid into the rail right of way in late January. The rail line was closed through San Clemente the evening of January 24 when a landslide caused major damage to the bridge and scattered debris onto the track.
The $7.2 million is in addition to a previous award from the state of $2 million for cleanup and pre-construction activities at the site. That money was made available when Caltrans declared an official emergency.
Tentative plans call for construction activities to begin as soon as next week, weather permitting.
Because of the significant slope movement and out of an abundance of caution, the OCTA and Metrolink project team has periodically halted BNSF freight rail traffic, which had been making overnight trips.
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