Double Tracking the Railroad Tracks

Double tracking - Existing street level rendering

Double tracking - below street level rendering

At a glance

Train traffic through Carlsbad is expected to double by 2035.
The San Diego Association of Governments, the agency that oversees the railway, is planning to build a second set of tracks along the original, all the way from Orange County to San Diego.
Since the railroad passes through two of the city's oldest neighborhoods, the city is exploring ways to address safety, traffic, environmental and quality of life concerns including options to lower the railroad tracks below street level, called trenching.
Trenching the railroad tracks would separate street and train traffic, creating an overpass for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.
City staff are working with SANDAG and NCTD to identify funding and grant opportunities.

Future train traffic

To accommodate the increase of train traffic, the San Diego Association of Governments is planning to build a second set of train tracks along the San Diego segment of the rail corridor, from the Orange County line to Downtown San Diego. To date, two-thirds of this segment has been double tracked.

Since the railroad crosses through two of Carlsbad’s oldest neighborhoods, the Village and Barrio, the planned expansion of a second set of railroad tracks poses unique challenges to the city.

In Carlsbad, the railroad tracks are mostly at the same level as the street. When a train comes through, safety gates come down and drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists must stop and wait. With an expected 100 trains coming through Carlsbad by 2035, double the amount that currently passes through, the city is exploring ways to address safety, traffic and environmental concerns.

Lowering the railroad tracks below street level in a trench through the Village and Barrio would separate train traffic from street traffic. Trenching the double railroad tracks would create an overpass for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians over the tracks.

Examples of what trenching the railroad tracks could look like

Project background

In 2014, the Carlsbad City Council made it a city priority to explore lowering the tracks below street level in a trench through the Village and Barrio. A study conducted by the city, SANDAG and the NCTD determined in 2017 that lowering the railroad tracks into a trench is technically feasible and minimizes safety and traffic concerns.

As SANDAG plans the construction of double tracks and considers trenching the portion through the Village and Barrio, two alternatives are under consideration:

A short trench running from Carlsbad Boulevard to the north side of Tamarack Avenue
A long trench running from Carlsbad Boulevard to the south side of Tamarack Avenue

Both alternatives would:

Replace the railroad bridge across Buena Vista Lagoon
Reconstruct the overpass for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers at Carlsbad Boulevard
Create an overpass for pedestrians and bicyclists at Beech Street
Create an overpass for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers at Grand Avenue
Create an overpass for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers at Carlsbad Village Drive
Create an overpass for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers at Oak Avenue

What’s the difference? The short trench alternative stops north of Tamarack Avenue. It would create an overpass for pedestrians and bicyclists at Chestnut Avenue, but not change the current situation at Tamarack Avenue, where train tracks would remain at street level with pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers.

The long trench alternative stops south of Tamarack Avenue. It would create overpasses for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers at both Chestnut Avenue and Tamarack Avenue.

Community input

The City of Carlsbad, San Diego Association of Governments and North County Transit District held a public input workshop on Nov. 20, 2019 at the Harding Community Center to inform the community about the potential project and to seek input about the two proposed alternatives, the short trench and long trench options.

In addition, an online public input survey was available through Dec. 13 and the project team met with a variety of community groups including the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, Army and Navy Academy, Carlsbad Village Association and Friends of the Barrio.

View the city's public input report and the Final Alternatives Analysis Report (large document that may take time to load).

Timeline

Past actions

June 13, 2023 | City Council
City Council appropriated $5.22 million from the General Fund Reserve and directed staff to request that SANDAG submit a FY 2023 Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program application for the project as the lead agency.

May 23, 2023 | City Council
During the City Council’s discussion of the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Preliminary Operating Budget, the City Council directed staff to present information and a recommendation regarding a potential budget allocation to advance the Carlsbad Village Railroad Double Track Trenching Project.

Feb. 4, 2021 | City Council
The City Council held a City Council Goals Workshop and received information regarding the subject project.

July 21, 2020 | City Council
The City Council received a presentation from the San Diego Association of Governments on the Carlsbad Village and Barrio Railroad Trench Alternatives.

June 23, 2020 | City Council
The City Council approved Resolution 2020-127, adopting the FY 2020-21 city operating budget and capital improvement program, which reprogrammed the unspent funds that were previously appropriated to the Railroad Double Tracking project budget (CIP 60591) in the FY 2018-19 CIP budget.

Sept. 10, 2019 | City Council
The City Council received a presentation from the San Diego Association of Governments regarding the Carlsbad Village and Barrio Railroad Trench Alternatives.

Jan. 29, 2019 | City Council
The City Council received a 2018 City Council Goals Status Report and discussed the 2019 Goal Setting Process and received information regarding the subject project.

Nov. 27, 2018 | City Council
The City Council approved Resolution 2018-202, which authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute an MOU with SANDAG to fund completion of an Alternatives Analysis and 10% Preliminary Engineering for a Carlsbad Village Railroad Trench in an amount not to exceed $375,000.

June 12, 2018 | City Council
The City Council approved Resolution 2018-093, adopting the FY 2018-19 city operating budget and capital improvement program, which included an appropriation of $2 million to the Railroad Double Tracking project budget (CIP 60591).

May 15, 2018 | City Council
The City Council adopted Resolution 2018-017, approving the FY 2018-19 City Council Goals Work Plan, and received information regarding the subject project.

Feb. 27, 2018 | City Council
Council received a status report on progress made toward the 2017 City Council Goals through December 2017.

Aug. 15, 2017 | City Council
Council adopted a resolution approving the FY 2017-18 City Council Goals Work Plan.

March 21, 2017 | City Council
The City Council held its 2017 City Council Goals Workshop #3 and received information regarding the subject project.

March 18, 2017 | City Council
The City Council held its 2017 Council Goals Workshop #2 and received information and public input regarding the subject project.

Feb. 21, 2017 | City Council
The City Council held its 2017 Council Goals Workshop and received information regarding the subject project.

Feb. 16, 2016 | City Council
The City Council adopted Resolution affirming the City Council’s Strategic Policy Goals, including to lower the railroad tracks in a trench through the Village to improve safety, community connectivity, quality of life and economic value.

Nov. 25, 2014 | City Council
The City Council approved Resolution No. 2014-268, updating the city’s legislative platform to support double tracking of the rail corridor within city limits in a way that minimizes impacts to the environment and the community, improves coastal access and neighborhood connections and enhances local economic vibrancy by eliminating or reducing at-grade rail crossings within the corridor; and authorized an appropriation of $250,000 from the General Fund – City Council Contingency Account to be utilized in the city’s efforts related to the Carlsbad Village Double Track project.

Documents/studies/plans

Railroad background info

The 351-mile long intercity and commuter rail corridor in Southern California stretches from San Diego in the south, up the coast to Orange County, Los Angeles County, Ventura County and Santa Barbara County to San Luis Obispo County in the north. This corridor is the second busiest intercity passenger rail line in the United States.

In the San Diego region, the track is used by the North County Transit District COASTER commuter train, Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and BNSF freight train. To meet increased ridership and demand for additional frequency on commuter and intercity rail services, San Diego Association of Governments, the local agency in charge of making improvements to transportation infrastructure, is improving rail safety and efficiency to the San Diego segment of the rail system.

Rail safety and efficiency projects along the rail corridor include:

Adding a second set of tracks parallel to the existing tracks (“double tracking”)
Replacing/upgrading older bridges and tracks
Constructing new platforms
Constructing new pedestrian under crossings

LOSSAN Rail Corridor Improvements

North County Transit District

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