Del Mar City Council wants SANDAG to hold off on building a new rail bridge over the San Dieguito River until the fate of a planned rail realignment project is decided. This delay is causing conflict with the Del Mar Fairgrounds, which has funding in place for the bridge and fears losing it if construction is postponed.
The city of Del Mar is seeking to postpone plans for a long-awaited railway bridge replacement over the San Dieguito River. Construction is scheduled to commence next year, but as KPBS North County reporter Alexander Nguyen explains, the project has ignited a conflict between the city and the Del Mar Fairgrounds. For over a century, trains have traversed the San Dieguito River via a wooden trestle bridge adjacent to the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
However, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) asserts that the aging rail bridge, constructed in 1916, necessitates frequent and costly repairs, and has reached the culmination of its operational lifespan. SANDAG proposes to construct a new bridge in 2026. This elevated structure would mitigate the impacts of rising sea levels and feature double tracks to accommodate increased rail traffic. The Del Mar City Council is urging SANDAG to defer the bridge's construction due to a concurrent project aimed at relocating the railroad tracks away from Del Mar's eroding bluffs. Del Mar Fairgrounds officials contend that a delay would jeopardize funding already secured for the bridge. Del Mar Mayor Terry Gaasterland emphasizes that it is more prudent to await the finalization of the rail realignment plan before expending resources on a new bridge. She states, 'Our city council recognizes that replacing this bridge before we know where the railroad tracks are going to be relocated in the railroad realignment is premature.' Gaasterland further elaborates, 'It was two years ago that we received $300 million from the state to conduct the environmental studies of realignment, and this bridge has been underway, but the assumption was that the railroad tracks would not move.' The San Diego LOSSAN Rail Realignment project is exploring alternative routes, involving tunnels to relocate the tracks away from the coastline. Options B and C propose tunneling through Del Mar, with the bridge serving as the connecting point. Gaasterland highlights the potential impact on residential areas, stating, 'About 50 homes would be right in the area where the portal is. And then about 500 homes would either be above the tunnel or laterally next door to a house above the tunnel. That is a lot of residential housing that would be impacted.' Conversely, the 22nd District Agricultural Association (22nd DAA), which manages the Del Mar Fairgrounds, argues that this option would render them incapable of hosting the annual San Diego County Fair. Tristan Hallman, spokesman for the 22nd DAA, emphasizes, 'It's the most expensive option. It destroys the fairgrounds in terms of what we're able to do here for years during construction. And frankly, we have the funding for this project.' SANDAG is yet to select a realignment option, but federal and state funds have already been allocated for the new bridge. The 22nd DAA has sent a letter to SANDAG expressing concern that delaying bridge construction could result in the loss of allocated funding. Hallman states, 'The region is going to lose the funding that we have set aside for this. That has a very specific purpose. It's for this project. It's for the seasonal rail platform.' The bridge replacement would encompass a seasonal platform, enabling passengers to disembark at the fairgrounds during special events. Gaasterland assures that there are avenues to extend the funding deadline and that the Del Mar City Council is prepared to collaborate in this endeavor. Any decision to delay the San Dieguito Double Track and Special Events Platform project necessitates consideration and approval by the SANDAG Board of Directors. Currently, there is no indication of when SANDAG might address the city's request. The matter is not included in the agenda for the SANDAG board meeting scheduled for this Friday
Del Mar Railway Bridge Rail Realignment San Diego County Fair SANDAG Funding Construction Delay
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