OCTA Submits Emergency Coastal Develop Permit

Image of landslide that occurred in San Clemente in Spring of 2024

Courtesy of OCTA

ORANGE COUNTY - The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) submitted an Emergency Coastal Develop Permit to the California Coastal Commission to allow it to expedite work to stabilize four vulnerable areas through San Clemente.

According to OCTA, it first issued a “request for information for contractors to provide dredging and transport options to expedite the sand placement component of the projects.” This includes 540,000 cubic yards of sand. The erosion that has plagued the area continues to occur, leading to the need for repairs, replacement of riprap and delivery of sand.

Previously, RT&S has reported on the landslides that have occurred in the area. These led to the construction of a temporary catchment wall last year. OCTA says it has identified four additional areas that require action to prevent loss of property and impact to rail. On April 14th, the OCTA Board will consider an action “that will allow the CEO to enter into emergency contracting agreements to expedite work on the four Coastal Rail Stabilization Priority Projects” identified in 2024. If approved, OCTA would be able to issue an emergency design-build procurement for construction of a catchment wall at Mariposa Point and build a revetment, seawall, or similar structure south of San Clemente State Beach. It would also enable Metrolink to repair/replace riprap, “limiting the amount to only what’s necessary to protect the track.” With the emergency action, projects could be “delivered one to two years sooner than the standard permit process would allow.” This work is reportedly consistent with state and federal grant funds totaling $305 million that OCTA received in 2024. 

Work on the four areas are expected to occur at different times because of the complexity of said areas and the availability of both material and contractors. During the design phase, the design itself and amount of required material will be refined and subject to change.

“We appreciate the State agencies understanding that OCTA needs to take emergency action to help ensure the ongoing safe operation of the rail line and prevent additional disruptions of service and damage to critical rail infrastructure,” said OCTA Chair Doug Chaffee, also Orange County’s Fourth District Supervisor.

OCTA reports 5,100 cubic yards of riprap would be needed to protect the track near Mariposa Point. 240,000 cubic yards of sand will be placed as well. Near San Clemente State Beach, 1,400 cubic yards of riprap repair, 22,000 cubic yards of revetment or seawall, and 300,000 cubic yards of sand have been deemed necessary to protect the track.

“For decades, South Orange County beaches eroded without adequate renourishment. This inaction caused widespread erosion, threatening our ocean economy, coastal rail corridor, and endangering our national defense and commerce,” said OCTA Director Katrina Foley, also the Fifth District Supervisor. “Last year OCTA secured more than $300 million to protect the four hot spot areas most vulnerable to catastrophic failure along the corridor. Today, OCTA is releasing our Request for Information (RFI) to all sand renourishment contractors to begin the process of placing up to 540,000 cubic yards along San Clemente’s beaches.”