California State Rail Plan 2005-06 to 2015-16

Chapter IX – Commuter Rail Services
PERFORMANCE
Figure 9C shows the annual Coaster
ridership data from the beginning of
service in 1995 through 2005. As
traffic on I-5 and I-805 continues to
increase, more commuters have
turned to the Coaster, whose ridership
has increased to almost 1.5 million in
2005.
Figure 9C
Coaster Ridership
Calendar Years 1995-2005
Year Ridership Year Ridership
1995 514,453 2001 1,258,263
1996 850,999 2002 1,300,047
1997 945,739 2003 1,366,479
1998 1,132,445 2004 1,474,360
1999 1,251,238 2005 1,485,125
2000 1,183,058
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
The Coaster is working to improve its infrastructure, including rail equipment
purchases and major system overhauls, bridge and track improvements, facility
and maintenance improvements, radio communication upgrades, technology
enhancements, and emergency response and system safety upgrades. These
projects will increase safety, ridership, and improve reliability of the service.
Double-Tracking Projects
Oceanside Passing Track – This Department project entails two components.
The first is construction of a 1.2 mile long passing track extension that will cross
Loma Alta Creek on a new concrete bridge. The second is to replace the existing
timber trestle bridge over Loma Alta Creek with a concrete bridge.
O’Neil-Flores Second Track – This Department project involves connecting the
existing Stuart and Pulgas sidings by constructing 1.8 miles of new mainline track
between control point (CP) O’Neil at MP 219.0 and CP Flores at MP 220.8.
The project also includes rehabilitating the existing 0.9 mile Pulgas siding from
CP Flores to CP Pulgas at MP 218.1 to mainline track standards and shifting
4,050 feet of existing mainline and siding track. When completed, the length of
double-track available for train meets and passes will extend from CP Pulgas to
CP Puller at MP 222.8 for a total length of 4.7 miles.
San Dieguito River Bridge Replacement and Second Main Track – This
project replaces a single-track bridge with a double-track concrete bridge, and
adds 1.1 miles of second main track to connect the existing passing tracks at
Solana Beach and Del Mar. The resultant double-track will be 2.8 miles in length.
Santa Margarita Bridge Replacement and Second Main Track – This project
will consist of three components: (1) replacement of the existing single-track
Santa Margarita River Railroad Bridge with a new two-track bridge,
(2) construction of a 0.8 mile new second main track, and (3) an upgrade and
realignment of the existing 1.7 mile Fallbrook Junction Passing Track.
In addition, the westerly 0.2-mile of the existing Stuart Mesa Passing Track will
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