California is second only to the Northeast Corridor in ridership - one in five Amtrak passengers is in California. There are three state-supported corridors in the state (Pacific Surfliner – LOSSAN, Capitol Corridor, and San Joaquins) and one emerging corridor – Coast Corridor. Since 2001, California’s population grew 11%, vehicle miles traveled grew only 8%, while ridership on California’s three intercity passenger rail lines increased 43%. Traveling on intercity passenger trains emits about 70% less greenhouse gas emissions when compared to typical automobile travel along the parallel highway corridors. And demand continues to grow - state intercity rail ridership is exceeding all growth expectations with each of our existing corridors continue to break ridership records each month.
LOSSAN Rail Corridor
Since 1989, SANDAG has been a member of the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency. LOSSAN seeks to increase ridership, revenue, capacity, reliability, and safety on the coastal rail corridor from San Diego to Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo. Other members are rail owners and operators and regional transportation planning agencies along the six-county coastal corridor. SANDAG provides staff support to LOSSAN with financial assistance from the other member agencies.
Also known as Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner Corridor, more than 2.7 million intercity passengers use the 351-mile LOSSAN corridor each year. Together with more than 6 million commuter passengers using either Metrolink or COASTER, it is one of the busiest passenger rail corridors in the nation and Amtrak’s second busiest.
Member agencies, working together, have been successful in securing funding for intercity rail programs. The State of California has invested more than $1 billion in the corridor, along with $200 million from Amtrak, and $300 million by local member agencies.
Since 1996, LOSSAN has secured $24 million in federal funds for corridor projects including grade separations in the Cities of Solana Beach, Commerce, and Fullerton. LOSSAN also has obtained federal funds for the Del Mar Bluffs Stabilization Project.
LOSSAN advocates to (1) preserve and enhance funds for intercity rail capital and operations, (2) maintain and enhance service frequency and quality, (3) support efforts to increase safety and security of the rail corridor, and (4) help promote community and transit-oriented development.
LOSSAN Corridorwide Strategic Business Plan
LOSSAN, Caltrans, and SANDAG developed a Strategic Business Plan for the rail corridor in 2007. Emphasis is on developing a plan for the Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo segment of the LOSSAN corridor (LOSSAN North Plan). This plan was integrated with the October 2003 Los Angeles to San Diego Strategic Business Plan for the Los Angeles to San Diego segment. A number of stakeholder and public meetings and detailed capacity modeling for the Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo segment have been completed.
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