Construction has been fully funded and will start next year on a train stop for special events at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, along with additional track, pedestrian undercrossings and a replacement railroad bridge across the nearby San Dieguito River.
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The California Transportation Commission announced in July it has allocated $214.3 million to the San Diego Association of Governments for what’s known as the San Dieguito double-track project.
With previous grants, the project is funded for an estimated $350 million, although costs are rising rapidly and could exceed the current estimate, a SANDAG official said.
“Final design is complete, and the project is currently being advertised for construction bids,” the official said. “Construction … is set to begin in early 2027 and is expected to be complete by mid-2031.”
The closest train station to the fairgrounds is at Solana Beach. Fairgrounds officials and SANDAG have long planned to build a passenger platform that would provide direct access and eliminate the need for a shuttle to bring train passengers from Solana Beach during the annual county fair and horse racing in the summer and fall.
The platform at the western edge of the fairgrounds will reduce local traffic, carbon emissions and noise in Del Mar, Solana Beach and San Diego, officials said.
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The single-track San Dieguito bridge near the fairgrounds was built in 1916. The new bridge will have two sets of tracks, as part of efforts to double-track the entire rail for improved service. The bridge also will be higher to avoid flooding from storms and high tides.
The San Dieguito rail improvement package is one of more than 150 transportation projects statewide that will get nearly $2.5 billion in grants announced this month by the state Transportation Commission.
Another large San Diego County project on the statewide list is the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry facility, along with information technology and tolling systems being built at the Mexican border, which will receive $255.1 million.
SANDAG also will get $84.9 million for additional lanes on state Route 125 and state Route 94 in La Mesa. And in North County, the state awarded $4.15 million to install a high-tension cable barrier and guardrail to improve safety on Interstate 15 near Rainbow.
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