Orange County Transportation Authority board members voted Monday to declare an emergency to expedite construction of a barrier to shore up the sliding hillside in San Clemente that has shut down passenger rail traffic to San Diego.
The authority owns the tracks used by Amtrak, Metrolink and freight railroads in Orange County. The route, which is the only rail connection to San Diego, has been closed to passenger trains since last week, though freight trains continue to operate at reduced speed.
“The emergency declaration gives the CEO authority to approve contracts more than $250,000,” Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley told City News Service.
The emergency declaration is a way to expedite the process of hiring a contractor to erect a wall where the hill is sliding to keep debris off the tracks, said Foley, who also serves on the OCTA board.
The emergency declaration could then be folded into the county’s emergency declaration to recoup Federal Emergency Management Agency funding from storm damage, Foley said.
“We had to do an emergency declaration because we don’t have time to go through the bidding process and all that,” Foley said, adding there is a sense of urgency to get the trains running.
San Clemente officials are meanwhile working to stabilize the hillside above the track near Casa Romantica Culture Center and Gardens, which has also been affected by the sliding hill.
Officials do not yet know when rail service could return to normal.
“As always, passenger safety will guide every action we take,” 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.”
The first mudslide near Casa Romantica happened on April 27. Rail service was shut down, but resumed again on May 27, but another mudslide on June 5 compelled another closure.
City News Service contributed to this article.