A Full House for SANDAG’s Rail Crossing Presentation

SANDAG’s Open House at Town Hall yesterday drew a full house, with lots of questions for the team presenting seven design concepts for a pedestrian crossing across the tracks on the Del Mar bluffs, including options for how the crossing would connect to the beach.

 

While the SANDAG team did not identify a preferred design among the seven options, it did assert that all of the design concepts provide substantial benefits over existing conditions, including a legal pedestrian crossing and connection to the beach, an accessible north-south trail, and view overlooks.

 

Residents participated in a spirited Q&A following the presentation, on topics including:

  • noise and visual impacts from warning systems (horns, lights, bells) when trains approach an at-grade pedestrian crossing;
  • the footprint of ADA-compliant ramps to the beach vs. stairs, and whether ramps would be required for agency approval or by funding sources;
  • the type and extent of safety fencing the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) would require for an at-grade crossing;
  • the extent to which an undercrossing would have more impact on the bluffs in terms of development, grading, excavation, and walls, than other crossing types;
  • maintenance and liability issues;

The online comment period is open now through January 31, 2023. Concept drawings and the full draft study, along with a link to the online comment form, are here: www.KeepSanDiegoMoving.com/CoastalConnections.

Photo: Betty Wheeler