Bringing the Metrolink Rail System to Life with Comprehensive Design Services

Kimley-Horn provides on-call engineering and design services to Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) in support of the Metrolink system, an expansive regional rail network serving the Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties with seven routes and 55 stations. Our team has performed a wide range of track, site civil, signal, structures, grade crossing, station, and sustainability improvements with phases of work ranging from environmental approval and conceptual engineering through final design.

Much of this work is in support of Metrolink’s Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion program, which will help accelerate Metrolink’s goal towards a zero-emissions future and prepare for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics Games.

Collaboration and Strategic Savings

Kimley-Horn has partnered with the SCRRA construction management group, conducted focus workshops during design development, and collaborated with SCRRA to identify creative, cost-saving solutions—including re-evaluating criteria for crash walls, analyzing different retaining wall types and grading configurations, and helping to reduce and ultimately phase project features. These solutions are projected to deliver more than $37 million in construction cost savings for SCRRA, specifically on the Balboa and Canyon projects.

Providing Comprehensive Rail Design Solutions

We are currently delivering multiple double tracking projects, grade crossing improvements, and slope stabilization projects, which has involved providing final design documentation for:

• One mile of additional mainline track along the Antelope Valley Line from CP Balboa to Tunnel 25 in the City of Los Angeles
• The extension of the Saugus Siding, near the existing CP Canyon, to the Santa Clarita Station along the Antelope Valley Line at Mile Post 34.3 in the City of Santa Clarita
• Two miles of additional mainline track along the Metrolink Ventura County Line through the City of Simi Valley
• Preliminary evaluation of 1.5 miles of siding track extension along the Orange County Line between CP Serra and the Beach Road at-grade crossing
• Safety improvements at the Devonshire Street highway-rail grade crossing on the SCRRA Ventura subdivision
• The Cogswell Road highway-rail grade crossing on Line in the City of El Monte

In close collaboration with Union Pacific Railroad, California Public Utilities Commission, LA Metro, Orange County Transportation Authority, Ventura County Transportation Commission, and numerous local municipalities, our solutions have advanced the safety, efficiency, and capacity of the Metrolink network to serve Southern California’s communities with a reliable and forward-looking regional rail system.