Del Mar, Calif., rail fence project faces another delay; new concern over accelerating bluff erosion
May 24, 2021
Fence installation along the rail right-of-way in Del Mar, Calif., has been delayed again.
SANDAG
Fence installation along tracks in Del Mar has another bare spot that must be filled.
The North County Transit District announced it wants to do more studies before the project commences, and ongoing public resistance also is still creating delays.
The original completion date of fence along the rail right-of-way that stretches across the Del Mar cliffs in California was by the end of the year. That date was then pushed back to 2021 when Del Mar residents complained that the 6-ft-high chain-link fence would destroy housing values and scenic views. Crews would install the barrier only in spots where there was a high trespassing rate on District tracks in Oceanside, Encinitas, and Del Mar. Officials were supposed to use the extra time to work with the public and other ag
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The installation of a fence to keep people off the railroad tracks in Del Mar, already delayed by public opposition, has been postponed again so North County Transit District can complete more studies.
Transit district officials initially told Del Mar in an Oct. 9, 2020, letter that the agency would install a 6-foot-high, chain-link fence by the end of the year along areas of the tracks “with the highest incidence of trespassing” in Oceanside, Encinitas and Del Mar.
Later that year, district officials said they would delay the Del Mar installation until 2021 to continue negotiations with the city and other agencies, including the California Coastal Commission. District Executive Director Matt Tucker said Thursday that the closed-door discussions continue, and the construction contract now will be awarded no sooner than Dec. 31.
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The California Energy Commission has awarded North County Transit District a $4 million grant to build a hydrogen fueling station at the district’s Breeze bus maintenance facility in the Oceanside Industrial Park, transit officials announced Monday.
“NCTD remains committed to being on the forefront of zero-emissions technology, providing clean transportation choices for our customers, and improving the air quality in our communities,” said Tony Kranz, the district’s board chairman and an Encinitas City Council member.
“This new technology and infrastructure will improve overall Breeze operations by decreasing the time needed to refuel, expanding the service range, and increasing the fuel economy of our fleet,” Kranz said in a district news release.
Some residents in Del Mar are fighting the North County Transit District's (NCTD) plans to create a safety fence along the railroad tracks above the Del Mar bluffs.
DEL MAR (KUSI) – The next phase of emergency repairs began Monday morning on the Del Mar Bluffs, where a bluff collapse occurred in late February, according to the San Diego Association of Governments.
During this phase of construction, crews will clear vegetation, remove debris, grade sections of the bluffs and build a support berm to further stabilize the bluffs.
Temporary concrete barriers, or “K-rail,” will be installed on the beach to protect beachgoers from falling debris and to help minimize bluff erosion from high tides. Beachgoers are encouraged to use caution near construction areas.
Work will take place Monday through Friday, however, work hours will be influenced by tide levels.