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California beachfronts will remain high-speed-rail free. California High Speed Rail Authority (CHRA) recently agreed to drop consideration of several controversial coastline alignments.



The alignments would have matched existing Amtrak Coastliner tracks along Del Mar Bluffs in San Diego County, and along Orange County’s San Clemente beach and San Juan Capistrano historic district.



"This was an important decision because it sets the ground rules for our final selection of the passenger-rail path linking San Diego to the high-speed train network," said CHRA Chairman Rod Diridon in a prepared statement. "This lets everyone focus on practical design options and lets folks along the coast know that we will not intrude on their beaches."



Local officials also are asking CHRA to drop an option that would place tracks near the Dana Point beach, but the authority’s board is delaying that decision until it compiles more information.



CHRA plans to select the best route to connect San Diego and Orange counties with Los Angeles’ Union Station.



A $9.95 billion bond issue is scheduled for the November 2004 statewide ballot to finance the proposed project’s first phase.