October 26, 2022

Rep. Mike Levin Hosts U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for Visit on Local Rail Infrastructure Challenges

Oceanside, CA – U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) hosted U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg yesterday to see the challenges facing the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor (LOSSAN Corridor), specifically in Del Mar where the rail line sits on eroding coastal bluffs. Rep. Levin, Secretary Buttigieg, and local officials rode the COASTER commuter train from San Diego to Solana Beach and discussed the urgent need to secure the bluffs and relocate a section of the tracks. They also discussed the temporary closure of rail service in San Clemente due to coastal erosion.

“It’s an honor to host Secretary Buttigieg in my district and to show him one of the most pressing transportation and infrastructure challenges we are facing in our nation,” said Rep. Levin. “This visit was timely because we’re seeing the detrimental effects of coastal erosion on this rail corridor in San Clemente right now. The LOSSAN Corridor is the second busiest intercity passenger rail corridor in the United States and supports $1 billion in goods and services annually. That’s what’s at stake. I was so glad to have Secretary Buttigieg visit and to show him how urgent this situation is. We need more federal investments here, and I’m grateful for his partnership on this challenge.”

“I want to thank Congressman Levin for encouraging us to come here and see for ourselves why it is so important to make sure we get the right kinds of infrastructure investment to prepare for the future,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “I want to recognize Senator Atkins and the state because we can be a much better partner in Washington when we are working with a state that has made the decision to step up with those infrastructure funds, and I have great admiration for the mayors and other local leaders and SANDAG and everybody who works day in and day out to make sure that residents’ needs are met. There is a deep commitment from our Administration to partner with state and local governments and to ensure that we are building and shoring up our infrastructure for the future.”

“When it comes to transportation, safety is paramount—the safety of riders, workers, the public, and military and freight transport. That’s why the California Legislature invested $300 million in the state budget to move the LOSSAN rail off the Del Mar bluffs to more secure ground inland,” said Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego). “As coastal erosion, storm surges, and sea level rise continue to threaten the stability of the bluffs, this critical relocation cannot be delayed. I appreciate that Secretary Buttigieg and the Administration, and Congressman Levin share my urgency and commitment to improving the safety and reliability of the second busiest rail route in the nation. Passengers, the public, and our economy are counting on it.”

“The LOSSAN Realignment project is the only solution for the constant disruption and ongoing threats of bluff failures along the rail corridor,” said SANDAG Chair and Encinitas Mayor Catherine Blakespear. “Yesterday’s visit from Secretary Buttigieg to the Del Mar Bluffs shows the importance of this rail corridor as an economic, defense, and transit connection for the nation. Thanks to Senate President Pro Tem Atkins, we have the funding to get the LOSSAN Realignment project shovel ready but to become a reality, federal support and funding will be critical.”

“The LOSSAN Corridor is of national importance for the movement of freight and passengers, and for our nation’s defense,” said NCTD Chair Jewel Edson. “Advancing key infrastructure projects along the corridor will boost passenger rail ridership, increase the efficiency and capacity of freight rail operations to support goods movement, and advance our climate action goals.”

In November 2021, Rep. Levin voted in support of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes the largest investment in rail since Amtrak’s creation. For more information on how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is addressing California’s infrastructure needs, click here.

In 2020, Rep. Levin helped secure a federal grant of $11.5 million from the Department of Transportation for SANDAG and the North County Transit District to stabilize the eroding coastal bluffs in Del Mar. That funding announcement followed a letter Rep. Levin led with the San Diego Congressional Delegation to the DOT urging the agency to award funding for the Del Mar Bluffs Stabilization project. 

He also passed $9.3 million this year as part of federal government funding legislation for the San Clemente Shoreline Protection Project, which will protect the LOSSAN Corridor tracks that run immediately adjacent to the San Clemente coast where the current closure is happening. The project involves placing about 251,000 cubic yards of sand on the City beach, which will widen the beach about 50 feet to provide storm damage reduction.

Earlier this year, California Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins secured a $300 million dollar investment in the state budget for the realignment of the LOSSAN rail corridor.

###