The primary purpose of the project is to eliminate the existing 1.6 mile long single track bottleneck between CP DON (MP 216.5) and CP pulgas (MP 218.1)

The Federal Transit Administration awarded the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) $3.5 million on June 29, 2026, under the Federal Transit Formula Grants program (CFDA 20.507) to eliminate a 1.6-mile single-track bottleneck on the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo rail corridor between Control Point Don and Control Point Pulgas in California.

SANDAG will construct a new bridge over Las Pulgas Road, add 1.3 miles of raised track bed embankment, bury overhead electric lines under the railroad right-of-way, and build new drainage structures. The second track will allow freight and passenger trains operated by BNSF, Metrolink (16 trains per day Monday–Friday, 10 on Saturday, 8 on Sunday), and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner (26 trains per day) to pass without stopping in the current single-track bottleneck, reducing travel time delays and increasing corridor capacity.

The award obligates $3.5 million with a performance period ending March 31, 2029. Work takes place in California. SANDAG indicated no intention to allocate funding to sub-recipients; the organization will execute the project directly.

Activities

Construct a new bridge over LAS pulgas road add 1.3 miles of raised track bed embankment bury overhead electric lines under the railroad right-of-way and build new drainage structures.

Expected outcomes

Adding a second track from CP DON south to CP pulgas will allow for freight and passenger trains to make passes without stopping in the current single-track bottleneck.

Intended beneficiaries

Transit riders on metrolink and amtrak.metrolinkthe southern california regional rail authority (scrra) operates metrolink commuter services between oceanside and LOS angeles and between oceanside and riverside providing 16 trains per day monday through friday 10 trains per day on saturday and 8 trains per day on sunday.amtrakamtrak operates 26 pacific surfliner trains per day.

Subrecipient activities

Sandag does not intend to allocate funding to subrecipients.