A temporary barrier wall is being considered by Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) as a possible solution for an unstable slope that has halted passenger rail traffic in San Clemente, Calif. The slope north of San Clemente Pier and below the Casa Romantica Cultural Center experienced a slide on June 5 that sent debris, dirt and a tree into the area near the OCTA-owned right of way.
The early June slide occurred just 10 days after the rail line opened to passenger rail traffic on May 27 following slope movement at the end of April. While freight trains are operating on the track at 10 mph, OCTA, Metrolink and LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency have indefinitely stopped passenger trains out of an abundance of caution.
On June 12, OCTA declared an emergency that authorizes CEO Darrell E. Johnson to take the necessary actions to protect the track below the sliding hillside.
“As always, passenger safety will guide every action we take,” OCTA CEO Johnson said. “We understand how difficult this closure is for the people who rely on rail service through San Clemente, and we will work hard to get service running again safely.”
Temporary barrier wall
The city of San Clemente is leading efforts to determine the cause of the slide and will be responsible for stabilizing the hillside above the track. The city has not provided a detailed timeline but notes the effort will take several weeks.
Metrolink and OCTA will develop and implement protective measures on the rail line below the slope that will allow the line to reopen for passenger rail traffic. The decision on when to reopen the line to passenger service will be made by OCTA, Metrolink and the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency.
OCTA says one likely effort will include the design and construction of a temporary barrier wall at the bottom of the slope, within the rail right of way owned by the authority. The purpose of the temporary wall would be to keep any additional debris from the slide from interfering with safe passenger rail movement on the track. Metrolink is expected to hire a contractor to design and build the wall on an emergency basis to speed up construction. Metrolink expects to hire a contractor within the next two weeks but explains the details of the wall construction project have not been determined.
OCTA says the size of the wall will be determined later with input from an engineering contractor. The rail partners will work with California Coastal Commission for emergency permitting for the temporary barrier wall.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
