SANDAG has started the value analysis study to improve the existing alignment alternatives and/or identify new ones for additional consideration. Stakeholders from Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Oceanside, San Diego, Solana Beach, the 22nd District Agricultural Association, Metropolitan Transit System, North County Transit District, and Caltrans have been invited to participate. The value analysis study is expected to be completed by the end of this year, at which point the findings of the analysis will be shared with the public and SANDAG Board of Directors.

• The value analysis study has started. Stakeholders from Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Oceanside, San Diego, Solana Beach, the 22nd District Agricultural Association, Metropolitan Transit System, Caltrans, and North County Transit District were invited to participate.
• The goal of the value analysis process is to find consensus with the stakeholders around a range of alternatives. This may include improvements to existing alternatives under consideration and/or identifying new alternatives.
• One of the first steps in completing this study was to work with the stakeholders to determine what the goals and objectives for the LOSSAN Rail Realignment project should be.
• We are about one week in now. Our technical teams have been working with SANDAG to evaluate what all of the possibilities could be, what the potential impacts might be, and what other considerations should be a part of the analysis.
• The study is expected to be completed by the end of this year, which is when the results of the study will be shared with the public.
• More than 1,500 comments were received during the public scoping period, with more than 1,400 of those comments coming from individuals (the rest were from organizations, agencies, and cities).
• Some of the items that were highlighted in the public comments include (in no particular order):
  • General support for the relocation of the rail off the bluffs
  • General opposition to alternatives that impact the community
  • Noise, vibration, traffic, and air quality impacts during construction and operation
  • Use of eminent domain for homes and businesses and impact on property values
  • Transport of hazardous materials
  • Unknown costs of acquiring right-of-way and potential litigation
  • Geotechnical constraints including faults, seismicity, and soil
  • Electrification
  • Cost-benefit and socioeconomic analyses
  • Water quality, flooding, endangered species, and impacts to lagoons\
  • Expansion of the project area to include San Diego County, Orange County, and/or I-15 corridor

The scoping comments are being reviewed by the project team, are being used to inform the VA study process, and will be used to help guide the next phase of the environmental process.

SANDAG is also updating their FAQs to respond to the most common questions raised and will be sharing those in the next month or so.