SANDAG’s Draft Budget for FY2025 Includes Del Mar Bluffs Stabilization

Courtesy of HDR

DEL MAR, Calif. – A draft budget was approved by SANDAG and includes details about stabilizing the Del Mar Bluffs and a rail realignment plan.

The San Diego Association of Governments approved a draft budget that includes information about a Del Mar Bluffs stabilization project as well as details about the environmental phase of a rail realignment plan. According to a report from the Del Mar Times,  the environmental phase will “help narrow down the possible routes for a new inland tunnel, which is scheduled to be completed in 2035.” SANDAG identified more routes as Del Mar residents have reportedly opposed two options that involve tunneling under the city. 

The bluffs stabilization project and the rail realignment plan are part of $1 billion in spending on improvements to the rail corridor that will take place over the next two decades. This comes in addition to a total $3 billion for rail relocation that “will be funded by multiple levels of government.” The draft budget, below, includes $23 million for the bluff stabilization through FY2025 and over $80 million through FY2033. The budget ending in 2025 includes $1.3 billion for more than 200 projects and will be voted on by the SANDAG Board of Directors in May. If it is approved, it will take effect in July.

Chair of SANDAG Board of Directors and the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, Nora Vargas said, “With key projects ranging from transit and corridor improvements to expansion of the regional bike network, this budget will increase equity and accessibility and enhance all our region has to offer. . . Today’s action is proof that we are getting things done, and I’m proud of the work that we are doing at SANDAG to deliver on our commitments to the San Diego region through a lens of equity and inclusion.”