Supervisor Katrina Foley Responds to Today’s Announcement of Track Closure in San Clemente as a Result of a Landslide

ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA –

Today, Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley released an update following the announcement by OC Transportation that freight, Metrolink, and Amtrak are closed through San Clemente as a result of a new landslide. 

All Thursday afternoon and evening Metrolink service will be closed from the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Station to Oceanside. Passengers will receive Uber vouchers of up to $50 to reach their final destination. Amtrak service is closed from Irvine to Oceanside.

In addition, the landslide resulted in an apartment building nearby to get red tagged, displacing residents. Impacted residents can call the City of San Clemente at (949) 361-8341 for assistance.  

The impacted area is located approximately two miles north of where the Orange County Transportation Authority is completing construction work near the Cyprus Shore Homeowners Association in San Clemente. The track closure went into effect at 1:11 p.m. on Thursday and the rail line will remain closed until further notice because of the threat of debris falling on the tracks.  

The decision to close the track was made out of an abundance of caution and the tracks will only reopen once it is determined safe rail movement can resume. There is no timetable as of this update.  

Supervisor Katrina Foley released the following statement below:  

“Coastal erosion and recent weather events continue to devastate Orange County’s coastline, threatening homes, businesses, beaches, and vital infrastructure,” said Supervisor Foley. “Unfortunately, I do not think this is the last incident that will occur. This is the third time in 2 years our rail system was shut down. My office is in direct contact with the County and State offices of Emergency Services, Congressmember Mike Levin, the City of San Clemente, and local partners to be of assistance. I will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates to the community.” 

This incident is the latest in a series of landslides and other related incidents that have occurred throughout Orange County as a result of winter storms and coastal erosion. 

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Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2022 to represent the newly established District 5, which includes the cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, a large portion of Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, as well as the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Mission Viejo, Stonecliffe and Wagon Wheel. This is her second term on the Board of Supervisors, where she previously served District 2.  

Supervisor Foley’s Board appointments include the Orange County Fire Authority, Coastal Greenbelt Authority, Law Library Board of Trustees, Newport Bay and South Orange County Watershed Executive Committees, OC Public Libraries Advisory Board, Orange County Housing Finance Trust, Orange County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, Orange County Transportation Authority, and the Transportation Corridor Agency.