STATE NIXES NCTD BID TO CONTROL BLUFFS

Transit district goal: bypass commission, Del Mar on projects

The California Coastal Commission has asked the North County Transit District to withdraw its request for sole control over projects to stabilize the railroad tracks on the coastal bluffs in Del Mar.

The transit district filed a petition in August with the federal Surface Transportation Board asking it to relieve the Coastal Commission and the city of Del Mar of jurisdiction over the bluff projects, including plans to install a chain-link fence that would stop pedestrians from crossing the tracks to get to the beach.

“Along with many members of the public, I was shocked and dismayed by North County Transit District’s (NCTD) abrupt decision to not only end its collaboration with the Coastal Commission staff ... but to do so without any notice or warning,” said the Oct. 15 letter from commission Executive Director John Ainsworth.

The commission has worked with NCTD and its partner the San Diego Association of Governments on at least 28 railroad projects since 2002, Ainsworth said. Those include adding segments of double track, replacing old bridges and trestles, and previous bluff stabilization projects.

“We believe that these final projects were better for the public and the environment through the efforts of NCTD, SANDAG and the commission to collaborate through the planning and approval process,” he said.

Transit district officials, in their petition to the Surface Transportation Board, said one of the reasons they need the waiver is because the Del Mar City Council, in an April 21 letter to the SEE BLUFFS • B5