Support SB 741 – Ensure SoCal Rail Repairs Protect California's Beaches
Preserve Southern California beaches by protecting them from increased armoring
SB 741 allows the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) to respond to true emergencies, but limits emergency exemptions to repairs within the existing footprint of highways and railroads and explicitly prohibits new shoreline armoring.
Protection of public beaches is essential. Hard shoreline armoring accelerates erosion, degrades ecosystems, and restricts or eliminates public access. We cannot afford to keep losing these critical public resources.
In San Clemente and Del Mar, railway authorities have already armored coastal areas at significant cost to both the environment and the public. Beaches and waves in this region are not only iconic but economically vital. Trestles Surf Break, the future site of the 2028 Olympic surfing competition, is valued at $12-20 million in direct local economy expenditures, plus $40 million in non-market value. San Clemente’s beaches contribute more than $25 million each year to the local economy through tourism and recreation.
Any use of shoreline armoring must continue to undergo Coastal Act review to ensure mitigation of impacts. Our support is contingent on maintaining the critical provisions prohibiting new armoring and limiting actions to true emergencies within existing transportation footprints.
The future of California’s coast, and the viability of our public beaches, access rights, and recreation economy, depends on it.