Topline:
A popular section of San Clemente’s beach trail will reopen to the public on Friday after transit crews completed a major project to protect a coastal rail line from landslides and falling debris. Portions of the trail have been closed over the last two years.
Background: The Orange County Transportation Authority is completing a $93 million project at Mariposa Point in San Clemente that includes a nearly 1,400-foot catchment wall to protect the battered railroad tracks from falling rocks and other debris.
Officials said: “This project is another example of OCTA delivering our commitment to protect this vital rail connection while also returning a popular recreational amenity to the community,” OCTA Chair Jamey M. Federico said in a statement.
More on the troubled rail: The project at Mariposa Point is part of OCTA’s greater efforts to protect a portion of the rail that is part of the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo rail corridor. Erosion and landslides along the coastal rail have caused several disruptions since 2021…