Keep Del Mar Rail Relocation on Track

Surfrider has long advocated for the relocation of 1.7 miles of railroad off of Del Mar's eroding bluffs. In August 2020, North County Transit District (NCTD) filed a request with the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) for exemption from environmental review for its activities in Del Mar. Granting such an exemption would have allowed a fencing project that blocked public beach access, as well as ongoing and planned bluff stabilization to occur without any mitigation for loss of beach access and destruction of the beach itself. Worse, it could have thwarted any plans for eventual rail relocation in Del Mar.  Lastly, an exemption would have also set a damning precedent for the entire state of California, potentially allowing rail agencies to sidestep Coastal Act consistency review for rail maintenance projects despite negative effects to our beaches and access to them. 

Surfrider adamantly maintained that all of these projects required consistency review with California's bedrock coastal environmental protection legislation, the California Coastal Act. The San Diego County Chapter submitted several comment letters to the STB in support of denying NCTD's request, and also petitioned the NCTD Board of Directors to change course. In June 2023, the STB declined NCTD's request. Then, in October 2024, NCTD filed a motion to dismiss their request rather than file an appeal. This decision ensures that Del Mar rail relocation efforts remain on track, and that rail agencies cannot sidestep Coastal Act review for projects along the coast. Check out our 2023 blog post for more information!