This is a contentious issue in the growing stage, between factions of Trestles users, State Park managers, the San Onofre Foundation and the railroad. The footpath to Lower Trestles from the drop-off at old Coast Highway (known as Slaughter Alley in its day) leads over the tracks to the beach. It has been in use for decades. In order to alter the risk factor posed by allowing walking on the tracks you have to go under them or up and over the rail bed. The “over” route is unpopular with advocates of not hardening a “natural” zone with a manmade structure, while tunneling under would be visually less invasive but pretty extensive in terms of construction, drainage and water table problems.

I would guess this is all about insurance liability for those promoting a change in the status quo, not so much about Trestles or human safety. I vote for just installing signage that states the frequency of train traffic, the amount of time one has between the appearance of a train and it reaching your position (like 4-5 seconds) and warning people to be extremely careful and that they cross at their own risk. Fully informed of the danger, if someone is hit by a train there, we as a society cannot be responsible for totally protecting them any more than we are for keeping people from falling over the low rock wall at the Glacier Point viewpoint overlooking Yosemite Valley. Let the nature of Trestles survive as much as possible (it’s already seriously compromised by being a State Park whose mission allows overuse in the interest of public recreation). The San Onofre Foundation is a good idea and worth supporting.