The Senate Transportation Subcommittee on the LOSSAN Rail Corridor met in San Clemente today to discuss competing for billions in federal funding to upgrade the system which is has been faced several challenges including landslides, capacity issues, and dilapidated railways.
Spanning 351 miles, the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo rail corridor is the second busiest in the county with 8.3 million passenger trips in 2019. It serves several military bases and the national ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Diego, and Port Hueneme.
The cost of implementing improvements envisioned by the state would be more than $20 billion, according to a December 2023 report by Senate researchers.
Senator Janet Nguyen (R-Huntington Beach), who sits on the committee, wants to see the focus on making the system faster and easier for residents to use.
“If you want someone like me to get out of my car to be able to get to work or to wherever I need to, it has to be almost the same amount of time or it has to be efficient,” Senator Janet Nguyen said. “Most people would not spend an hour, or two or 3 hours waiting for the bus or the train. We all work and have to get to the location.”
Operators have faced challenges making the system user friendly, prompting the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency to implement a pilot program in Los Angeles to allow riders an all access pass to any of the five train operators.
The State Transportation Agency has said that network integration is a priority, as each geographic section operates separately.
Senator Janet Nguyen wants to make sure that local residents and businesses have a voice in the project as it moves forward.
“I want to make sure we protect the residents, community leaders and businesses for their safety’s sake making sure we are working in the community to get their input. To see what works for them every day.”