The San Diego North County Transit District received $100 million in state funds on April 24 to replace a railway bridge in Del Mar, which officials say will result in faster and more frequent train services.
The replacement of the 107-year-old wooden San Dieguito bridge will also include the construction of double tracks and a special events platform at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
The new mile-long tracks will relieve what officials called a “bottleneck” in the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo intercity rail corridor—the nation’s second busiest—allowing an additional 10 Pacific Surfliner, eight commuter, and seven freight trains to run.
The project is estimated to be finished by 2035.
It is one of 28 public transportation projects receiving $690 million in state funding this year, according to an April 25 announcement from Gov. Gavin Newsom.
According to Newsom, his interest in expanding access to transit and passenger railway services is a step towards his goal of minimizing pollution in the state.
“California is making a multiyear, multibillion-dollar investment to transform and modernize our transportation infrastructure,” he said in the announcement. “Our state is placing a high priority on investing in public transportation projects that aim to shift away from fossil fuels while making public travel more rider friendly.”
The reconstruction of the bridge will also increase public access to the Del Mar Fairgrounds—known for its annual fair, horse races, and concerts.
