Del Mar Councilmember Dan Quirk wanting San Diego County to get rid of its train.

Councilmember Dan Quirk holds a unique perspective compared to his colleagues on the council, setting him apart. Nevertheless, this stance has led to conflicts with numerous residents and transportation officials.

Councilmember Dan Quirk opposes a high-priced proposal to shift a portion of the train tracks along the delicate Del Mar bluffs into an underground tunnel. This viewpoint stands in contrast to the majority opinion.

The San Diego Association of Governments has been discussing the relocation of certain train tracks into a tunnel for an extended period. It’s a significant project on their agenda. At the same time, both the agency and the North County Transit District have invested substantial funds, hundreds of millions of dollars, to reinforce the bluffs and ensure the safety of the train line.

Leaders at SANDAG and NCTD, along with local officials, have not yet chosen the specific location for the tunnel. However, the majority of individuals are supportive of the project, despite its estimated cost of around $4 billion.

The tunnel is set to be several hundred feet below ground and at least a mile away from the current precarious track location. It’s a crucial part of a larger 40-year regional plan by SANDAG, with an estimated cost of $160 billion.

In 2022, SANDAG received a substantial $300 million grant from the state to support the tunnel project. According to Danny Veeh, SANDAG’s rail planning program manager, this grant is the largest award the agency has ever received for the LOSSAN corridor, as reported to the Union-Tribune in 2022.

The LOSSAN corridor, a train route connecting San Diego to Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo, has 1.6 miles of tracks along the Del Mar bluffs. Elected officials agree that SANDAG will likely need to relocate these tracks due to the bluffs eroding at a rate of 6 inches per year. In certain spots in Del Mar, the rails are just a few feet from the crumbling cliff.

Transit leaders stress the significant role of train tracks for local business and transportation. The LOSSAN corridor, managed by SANDAG, deals with approximately $1 billion in freight and serves nearly 8 million passengers annually. Most of this activity occurs on the train tracks between San Diego and Los Angeles.

As per Veeh, SANDAG’s rail planning program manager, these tracks serve as the only rail link connecting San Diego to the rest of the country. Thus, it is crucial to maintain this rail corridor as a vital piece of infrastructure for the region.

Quirk expresses concern about the train project, highlighting data from SANDAG and NCTD indicating a decline in ridership over the past few years. According to NCTD’s 2022 report, there was a 51% decrease in total passenger boardings from 2013 to 2022.

Quirk suggests that projects like the Del Mar tunnel should undergo a careful cost-benefit analysis. He points out that the main goal of such projects is to help people get around, and he believes the cost per trip or per rider for the Del Mar tunnel is too high.

SANDAG and NCTD acknowledge the decline in ridership, attributing it to the pandemic. They anticipate a gradual increase in numbers as they improve rail lines and introduce more trains.

Quirk suggests stopping the use of a 61-mile stretch of train tracks from San Diego to just south of San Juan Capistrano. He points out ongoing problems, like land falling apart, causing disruptions and expensive repairs last year. Quirk proposes transforming these tracks into a public trail.

However, his colleagues disagree, believing not having a train is not an option. Over time, Quirk’s persistent stance has led to disagreements with other council members, resulting in intense discussions, warnings, and even a censure.

Last month, the Del Mar City Council expressed disapproval of Quirk’s actions. They were unhappy because he talked about the train and tunnel to other groups and the news without making it clear if he was speaking for himself or the city.

This happened after Quirk did a TV interview with KUSI, where he shared his concerns about SANDAG and the North County Transit District, the train tunnel, and San Diego’s rail line. In the interview, they identified him as a Del Mar council member, and the city’s logo was visible in the background.

David Druker, a council member, mentioned that city staff had to apologize for Quirk’s comments to different groups and clarify that he was expressing his personal opinions, not the entire council’s.

Quirk believes he has the right to express his thoughts as an elected official. He disagrees with the disapproval and sees it as an attack on his freedom of speech.

Despite the disagreement, Quirk doesn’t plan to keep quiet about his opinions. He declined the opportunity to be the mayor in Del Mar because he doesn’t want to compromise his values.

He wants to make it clear that he’s not against transit, having used subways and public transportation in places like New York and San Francisco. However, he argues that San Diego’s train doesn’t have enough riders to justify spending a lot of money on it.

He also opposes a proposal for a sales tax increase. This tax would fund SANDAG’s plan, including the train tunnel. Quirk believes sales taxes are unfair because everyone in the county would have to pay more, even if they don’t use the train. The proposed tax increase would allocate most of the money to SANDAG for transit projects and some for improving highways and roads.
Quirk suggests that instead of spending money on the train tunnel, the funds should be used for other projects like the Surf Line Trail.

He gives examples from other places, like in Atlanta, where they transformed unused train tracks into the Atlanta BeltLine, featuring trails, walkways, and parks. In New York City, they turned a 1.45-mile section of old train tracks into the High Line, an elevated trail and park.

Quirk envisions doing something similar with the 61 miles of train tracks from San Diego to south of San Juan Capistrano. He supports the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a group that changes old train tracks into public trails for walking, running, and biking. Since it started in 1986, they’ve transformed many tracks this way.

Quirk, along with his twin brother, is working hard to gain support for the Surf Line Trail, and he plans to keep advocating for this project.