The coast-hugging rail corridor linking Los Angeles and San Diego faces an uncertain future as mudslides once again force part of the line to close.
The Los Angeles-to-San Diego rail corridor was once again severed by storms that brought on mudslides, putting the coastal rail line in jeopardy.
As Dan Zukowski explains in Smart Cities Dive, this is the fifth time in three years that Southern California rail service was interrupted by damage from coastal erosion. Some beaches in San Clemente have shrunk by as much as five feet per year since 2001. “In late 2022, workers had to repair tracks that had slipped more than 2 feet toward the ocean due to erosion.”
The repeated closures have led to a precipitous drop in ridership. “[L]ast May, during one of the previous closures, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that ridership had dropped to between 40% and 50% of pre-pandemic levels after recovering to about 75% of earlier ridership.”Local agencies are planning mitigation measures, but sea level rise likely means the rail line will require relocation.
FULL STORY: California storms sever Amtrak, commuter rail line once again
State Leaders Warn of Risks to Southern California Rail Corridor
Coastal erosion and rising sea levels threaten one of the nation’s most scenic—and strategically important—rail corridors.
Southern California Rail Service Resumes After Landslide
The corridor has been closed multiple times in the past year as erosion and landslides put coastal rail infrastructure in jeopardy.
Southern California Rail Corridor In Danger From Erosion, Lack of Leadership
With a patchwork of management and local agencies involved, the imperiled rail corridor has no unified plan for improving or relocating tracks impacted by coastal erosion.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
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