SANDAG has introduced three proposals to relocate the railroad tracks currently situated along the Del Mar bluffs, moving them inland and underground. The transportation agency seeks public input before finalizing its proposal.

The proposals focus on a 1.7-mile section of the San Diego-Los Angeles-San Luis Obispo rail corridor between Sorrento Valley and Solana Beach, aiming to address the erosion issues of the cliffside. All options suggest converting the current single-track route into a double-track system running through a tunnel. However, each plan offers distinct differences:

Alternative A

This plan proposes completely removing the above-ground tracks in Del Mar. Trains would enter a tunnel between Carmel Mountain Road and State Route 56, then follow a path parallel to Interstate 5. The tracks would return to the coastline beneath the San Dieguito Lagoon, reconnecting with the existing railway near the fairgrounds. Additional infrastructure would be developed within the Los Peñasquitos Lagoon area. A new underground special events platform would be created under the fairgrounds, starting south of the existing Solana Beach station.

Alternative B

The second proposal features a tunnel entrance at Carmel Valley and another near Jimmy Durante Boulevard, just south of the Del Mar Fairgrounds. To accommodate this, the boulevard would need to be raised. This alternative would place the train tracks beneath parts of the Torrey Pines State Reserve and the city of Del Mar, rather than following the interstate and lagoon as in Alternative A.

Alternative C

Alternative C proposes that the tracks be relocated closer to Carmel Valley Road. The track berm would then be raised by 8 feet and enter a tunnel at Del Mar Car Care. The tunnel would then travel roughly underneath Camino Del Mar until it links back up with the current train tracks near Jimmy Durante.

Additional Information and How to Comment

SANDAG's updated rail system proposals are outlined in a Notice of Preparation, which includes details on Alignments A, B, and C. All plans involve significant tunneling, construction, and costs, with impacts on private properties. The double-tracked system aims to increase the frequency and speed of passenger, freight, and military trains.

Public comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) are due by July 19, 2024. Comments can be submitted online, via email, or by mail to SANDAG.