Metrolink Work on Beach Line Draws Criticism

Metrolink caused a stir among some environmentalists this week by placing large rocks on San Clemente’s city beach to shield railroad tracks from the surf.

Officials at the commuter rail agency say rocks have been used for decades to protect the tracks that cross the beach, carrying passenger and freight trains between Los Angeles and San Diego.

But some environmentalists claim the work was illegal and will speed up erosion of the scenic sands along Orange County’s southern coast.

“We have perhaps the nation’s nicest beach here, and they’re dumping rocks,” said Mark Babski, a member of the Surfrider Foundation, an environmental group.

Surfrider President Mark Cousineau on Tuesday called on the state Coastal Commission to stop the work until Metrolink obtains a coastal permit. The work, however, was completed Tuesday morning.

The track through San Clemente is a major rail artery linking Los Angeles and San Diego. Metrolink officials said the rocks are needed to protect the safety of thousands of passengers on Metrolink and Amtrak trains that travel along the oceanfront track. The rocks are placed between the track and the ocean, 10 to 30 feet from the center of the track on its seaward side.

The work, which began Friday, was ordered after Metrolink inspectors witnessed water lapping against the railroad track, said Michael McGinley, Metrolink’s director of engineering.

“The waves will wash the embankment from under the track, which would make it unstable and not able to withstand a train,” McGinley said. Workers long have protected the embankment by placing large rocks along the beach to deflect the waves, he said.

The railroad beach route is at least 100 years old, officials said.

“This sort of maintenance has been going on for decades,” said John Standiford, spokesman for the Orange County Transportation Authority, which owns the track. Metrolink operates the rail system and conducts maintenance.

Rail operators traditionally have not applied for Coastal Commission permits before doing rock work maintenance.

But in recent months, the commission staff has been in talks with Metrolink about whether permits are needed for such work. And the county Transportation Authority did submit a permit request in March for general maintenance work.

Teresa Henry, the Coastal Commission’s district director, said in most cases the state Coastal Act “requires a permit when you do work on the beach.”

Henry said her agency will ask rail officials not to do future work without a permit.

Times correspondent Chris Ceballos contributed to this report.

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Beach Debate

Metrolink maintenance work along San Clemente’s City Beach is attracting complaints from some surfers, who say boulders placed along the rail line to prevent erosion take up space on the beach and reduce access to the ocean.

Boulders shield rails used by Metrolink trains from the surf. Over time, the rocks settle into the sand and new ones have to be piled on top to maintain the barrier.

Source: Metrolink, Times reports

Graphics reporting by CHRIS CEBALLOS / Los Angeles Times