SANDAG Issues “NOP” Identifying Rail Alignments for Environmental Review for Proposed Relocation of Tracks Off Del Mar Bluffs
Proposed review includes three realignments, double-tracking and reinforcement of current alignment, plus the “No Build” alternative required by law
The project to relocate the railroad tracks away from the Del Mar Bluffs took a major step forward with today’s release by SANDAG of a “Notice of Preparation” (NOP) identifying alternatives for environmental review. More information from SANDAG about the newly released NOP (dated May 16, but posted online on May 15), the project’s history, and next steps can be found here. An online comment form is here.
An NOP is the first formal step in the process to create the Environmental Impact Report required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) before SANDAG can proceed with the realignment project. SANDAG’s earlier NOP issued in June 2024 was withdrawn after numerous public comments raised concerns about the proposed alternatives; the NOP issued today follows an extensive “value analysis study” and reconsideration of potential alternatives by SANDAG.
SANDAG’s Board reviewed a revised group of alternatives on February 28, 2025, and directed staff to proceed with the following revised alternatives for environmental review:
- San Dieguito Bridge to I-5 Knoll: Aligned to minimize impacts to Del Mar, the Fairgrounds, and San Dieguito Double Track Bridge. A note in the NOP states that “A more northerly design concept of the San Dieguito to I-5 alternative alignment will be explored during the environmental process.”
- Under Crest Canyon (Under Jimmy Durante to I-5 Knoll): Realigned to minimize subsurface easements by routing below Crest Canyon
- Under Camino Del Mar (Under Jimmy Durante to Torrey Pines Road West): Aligned to minimize subsurface easements by following below Camino Del Mar
- Del Mar Bluffs Double Track Reinforced: Maintains current alignment, adds double track along the bluffs and through Los Penasquitos Lagoon with bluff reinforcement and more robust seawalls
- No Build: Includes continuation of major stabilization efforts that would be required to protect the existing single-track alignment
While environmental review of a “No Build” option is required by CEQA, the “double track reinforced” option is widely viewed as a surprising addition to the recommended options for environmental review, given SANDAG’s position that maintaining the tracks — much less double-tracking — on the bluffs is untenable in the long term, with ever-more-expensive bluff stabilization projects ($88 million for the current Phase 5 project) seen as providing rail safety in the short term, but not permanently.
PUBLIC MEETING AND COMMENT: SANDAG will hold a public “scoping” meeting at The Sound, at the Del Mar Fairgrounds from 6 to 7:30 pm on Thursday, May 29 (2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd.), where the public can learn more about the proposed alignments and share feedback. The public comment period on the NOP will end on June 30, 2025. Online comments can be submitted here.
After the original NOP was released by SANDAG in 2024, The Sandpiper published an article on “The NOP: What Is It? Why Does It Matter?,” with author Dwight Worden’s perspectives on how Del Mar citizens can most effectively engage in the public comment period. Find it here. Though the proposed alignments have changed in the newly released NOP, the author’s recommendations on how to strategically address the NOP during the public comment period are still worth studying by those who want to help shape the environmental review of this important project.
The image below is from the revised NOP, which also contains graphics showing each of the alignment alternatives.
The Sandpiper will continue to report on this issue as new developments occur.
