SAN DIEGO -- Local transportation officials are hoping their long-delayed plan to lay a second track along San Diego County's busy coastal railroad will get a boost from the big federal stimulus package.
The San Diego Association of Governments' transportation committee Friday recommended applying for $352 million in stimulus money from the package's $8 billion pot for fast trains. SANDAG's board of directors is set to vote on the recommendation next week.
If the board approves, the bid for millions of dollars for tracks, bridges, tunnels and station improvements will be forwarded to the California Department of Transportation for inclusion in a statewide application that must be filed with the federal government by Aug. 24.
Most of the improvements would take place in North County.
However, agency officials acknowledge that the region would be fortunate to receive a fraction of the money requested, given that the $8 billion is going to be spread throughout the country.
One might wonder why San Diego-area officials are even bothering to ask for money from the high-speed rail pot for a conventional railroad. While it is hardly a bullet-train system, the coastal corridor is eligible for funding from the pot because top speeds reach 90 mph on Camp Pendleton. That is good enough to meet the federal definition of a speedy rail system.
The coastal railroad through Southern California is the nation's second-busiest passenger railroad. The portion in San Diego County is served by cross-country Amtrak trains and commuter Coaster and Metrolink trains. And it also has freight traffic.
Of the 60 miles within San Diego County -- between Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego and the Orange County line -- there is a second track for about half the distance.
Linda Culp, SANDAG senior transportation planner, said the agency has a plan to boost the double-track mileage from 32 miles to 56 miles by 2030.
However, the plan is largely unfunded, save for $23 million set aside for a mile of track in Sorrento Valley. And SANDAG is hoping the stimulus package can give it a boost.
"This is really an opportunity that we shouldn't pass up," Culp said.
A second track is needed all along the corridor to increase its capacity, she said. Already, the railroad handles all the trains it can accommodate, or 73 a day. That includes 24 Amtrak, 26 Coaster, 16 Metrolink and seven freight trains.
SANDAG is aiming to increase the railroad's capacity to 79 trains a day in 2015, 93 trains a day in 2025 and 119 trains a day in 2030.
Culp said the agency would like to squeeze more commuter trains onto the tracks and speed up travel times.
Besides laying down more track, SANDAG is aiming to replace aging bridges along the corridor.
"I can't tell you how critical bridge replacement is," said committee member Bob Campbell of Vista, who is chairman of the North County Transit District board. "There is never enough money in the budget for that. And some of these bridges go back to the 1930s."
SANDAG is looking to apply for money to replace bridges over Los Penasquitos, San Elijo and Agua Hedionda lagoons, and the San Luis Rey River and San Dieguito rivers. The agency is seeking funds to lay down more track at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas and Del Mar, and for a rail platform at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
And while stiff competition is expected for the federal money, a prominent regional official urged SANDAG to put in a strong bid.
"The good news is that the federal government is printing a lot of money and there is a new game in town. And the name of that game is rail," said John Chalker, a San Diego businessman who chairs the California Transportation Commission.
Call staff writer Dave Downey at 760-745-6611, ext. 2623.
